Testimonies from Zaire

Overview

Since autumn 1992 harassment of people of Kasaian origin in Shaba (formerly Katanga) in southern Zaire has resulted in massive displacement. More than 150fl00 people have fled north into East and West Kasai, using whatever transport they could find. In October 1992 a Comite de Co-ordination des Refoules (CCR) was set up by local churches, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and representatives of local authorities in Kananga. The CCR organises a transit facility where those arriving by train are registered and cared for, and are then either housed locally or channelled back to their areas of origin. Many of those arriving are in poor physical and psychological health; they are being fed with great difficulty and sacrifice by their extended families and local churches. Almost the only help they have received so far has come through the CCR. Oxfam has a sub-office in Kananga and has been assisting the CCR. Oxfam staff asked women to record their experience of being ‘repatriated’ from Shaba. This article has extracts from their accounts.

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