DR Congo: Gaspard, a survivor of armed conflict, hopes to rebuild his life
Par Rodrigue Harakandi, Communications Officer
Gaspard, 28, fled his village of Karuba, in Masisi territory in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, following violent clashes between M23 rebels and the DRC's armed forces. He now lives in the Bulengo camp, a few kilometers from the town of Goma, far from the horrors of war.
"The rebels arrived in our village of Karuba and, frightened by the crackling of bullets, we fled. As we fled, a bullet hit my cousin who was in front of me. He died instantly. Another bullet hit me in the foot. The people we were fleeing with took me to Kirotshe Hospital. Then I was transferred to the CBCA hospital in Goma for an operation", recalls Gaspard.
While he was in the hospital, his wife Marie would bring him the food she begged from strangers living in the neighborhood around the hospital.
"I'm moved by the generosity of the strangers who helped me", says Gaspard.
Before the armed conflict, Gaspard was a farmer, growing irish potatoes and beans. In each growing season, he harvested at least 10 sacks of irish potatoes, each weighing 130 kg. However, his life was turned upside down with the start of hostilities. With no access to the fields for farming, he had to rely on various forms of help from people around him to survive.
In November 2023, he was allowed to leave the hospital and went to live in the Bulengo IDPs camp, where more than 100,000 people had taken refuge. When he arrived, people of goodwill lent him shelter, as they did not have the means to do so.
Gaspard believes he learned a lot during this difficult period, particularly about the value of charity towards people in need.
Gaspard's family is his greatest strength. His family has supported him throughout this difficult period. Without his injury, he is convinced that he would have been able to progress in life thanks to his farming activity which helps him to feed his family.
Apart from farming, he also played guitar in his spare time.
"I'm a guitarist and director of the Tumaini choir. I dedicate my life to God and my faith in him has kept me positive throughout this difficult journey," he says.
Today, Gaspard is affected by a phobia of the sound of bullets. "Every time I hear the crackling of bullets, memories of the invasion of my village come back and it scares me too much," he says.
Gaspard's life is a poignant testimony to the devastating consequences of armed conflict. Despite the hardships he has endured, he remains determined to rebuild his life and find peace in an uncertain future.
World Vision and other organizations are working every day to bring vital aid to these affected communities. World Vision, supported by the World Food Programme, has already assisted more than 600,000 people with food and cash. More than $10,900,000 and 9,800 tonnes of food have been distributed to internally displaced people, including Gaspard, following the M23 conflict. The Childhood Rescue program provides psychological support to IDPs and raises awareness of issues relating to the protection of vulnerable children and women in the camps.