Stories from Nzara: Congolese family reunited

This is the story of Teresa, sent to us by the Comboni Sisters in Nzara, South Sudan. IRT are funding many of their facilities, and we are delighted to hear that during a time of tragedy, happy moments occur as well:

A mother reunited with her child in Nzara. The outcome of Teresa's reunion with her children is one that so many hope for when they arrive in the camp."Amidst a lot of suffering, there are also events which bring joy and hope. Yesterday, Teresa, a Congolese refugee who arrived in Nzara a few days ago, came to us and had the great joy of embracing her seven children whom she had thought to be dead.

She told us her family was living peacefully in a village called Yakuruku in DR Congo. She and her husband John Mbapa had seven children: Emmanuel 19 yrs., Justina 18, Joseph 17, Moses 14, Judita 12, Mary 10 and Vicky 4.

Due to the attacks of the Lord’s Resistance Army [LRA] they would hide in the safety of the forest each night. Vicky, the youngest, used to cry a lot during the night, so that evening, as there were rumours that the rebels were near, the parents told the children to go deeper into the forest, while they remained near home, hidden in the grass. The safety of the younger children was entrusted to Emmanuel and Justina.

Mbapa took the first turn in watching while Teresa slept, then during the turn of Teresa, after midnight, she heard the noise of gumboots. She woke up her husband, but they had no chance to escape. Using big torches, the rebels found them easily. Mbapa tried to escape, so he was tied up. They were taken back in their compound which was full of rebels who had already collected their few belongings: food, saucepans and blankets. In the meantime they also collected the neighbours: three men and four women. The children in the forest heard the cries coming from the village and understood they had to stay away. Luckily enough that night Vicky was still sleeping when they heard the cries of their parents. Emmanuel took her and they began running and running.

The rebels started moving with their captives and their belongings. They walked for three days, resting only a few hours during the night. Wherever they went they kept killing and abducting. They stopped at last and told the women to look for firewood and start cooking. During the night some rebels collected the four abducted men who were already tied together and took them into the bush and killed them. This is what happened to almost all men. The women could hear their cries. Teresa says she noticed that rebels have different tasks: one group surrounds the prisoners during the night, while others remain hidden just outside the camp to control anyone who eventually tries to run away. If you are caught you are killed immediately.

The following night Teresa was sent again for firewood. She pretended to kneel down to tie the bundles together and managed crawled away until she reached a spot covered by tall grass. She then ran falling down many times as it was so dark. This is probably why she lost, after some time, the child she was expecting. Teresa had great courage as we know that if you are caught after trying to run, you are severely punished, tortured and killed. Sometimes LRA rebels take revenge on other prisoners. Teresa spent days wandering in the forest until she reached a road where she met some SPLA [Sudan People's Liberation Army] women soldiers who informed her they were going to Yambio [town near Nzara, South Sudan]. She joined them.

On the way she was told that many Congolese refugees were in Makpundo Camp, 40 miles from Yambio, and another group was in Nzara. Before reaching Yambio they took a rest in Makaragundo where the women soldiers shared food with her. Here she met an old neighbour and some relatives. However, no one could give her information about her children; she lost all hope of ever seeing them again. She established herself with other refugees in an area near Rimenze; after a while she held a funeral for her children. It was only after seven months that she heard from other Congolese coming from Makpundo Camp that UNHCR was trying to trace the family of seven children staying in Nzara with the Comboni Sisters. She then decided to come to Nzara, it took her two days by bicycle. You can imagine the joy, the tears they all shed when mother and children met.

Teresa finished her story by adding that girls and women given as wives to LRA are not sent to fight, but, like all the abducted, suffer greatly due to lack of food and abuse. Especially children are dying.
The elder son, Emmanuel, then told us what happened the night LRA came to their village.

After hearing the cries of their parents, Emmanuel collected Vicky who was still sound asleep and they all ran deeper into the bush. During the next day Emmanuel and Justina went back home. They found it deserted and everything destroyed and burned, no sign of their parents, no one present in the area. They went back to the bush where they waited in vain for three days for their parents. Their situation was worsening: no food, no security. They started their journey towards South Sudan until, after five days, they reached Nzara.

They were exhausted and hungry. Emmanuel had swollen legs as he had to carry Vicky all the way. They stopped under a tree near Nzara market, a lady saw them and hearing their story, she had pity and took them to her home. Some days later people said that the Comboni Sisters were helping refugees so they went to them.

Thanks to the people who are helping and supporting us, we have been able to meet the emergency needs of refugees who are displaced due to the terrible activities of Joseph Kony and his Lord Resistance Army."