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We try to lend a helping hand to as many African children and families in need as possible and to provide them with an efficient, cross-sectoral and sustainable assistance. Beside our projects on the ground, we also organise a number of presentations and programmes in Hungary so that everyone can discover the cultural and natural values of the African continent. We try to reach as great a public as possible, inform it about our work and win over new and new supporters for our cause. You can find updates on our projects and events by surfing the News.

Two faces of Goma

2009. June 25.

On 9 June, France Mutombo, Head of the Foundation arrived at Goma through
the assistance of the UN. He visited two refugee camps. Below is a short
summary of his experience:

Photos related to the news article

Goma is an amazing place, it could easily be a tourist paradise. It is located on the shore of the Kivu lake in an area surrounded by volcanic mountains. "As if we were on the Croatian coast", describes France in his notes. The reconstruction of the region forges ahead, a vast number of modern, Mediterranean-style buildings have been built in the city in the recent period. Besides, the vicinity of the city hosts the biggest wild reservation of the country and the oldest national park in Africa. However, the beautiful appearance hides profound tragedies. Tourists would be frightened off if they encountered the real danger of the place. The city is still full of rebels, walking the streets disguised as civilians. The refugee camps are located at the feet of Nyirangongo, a volcanic mountain that is still active. The camps provide shelter for over ten thousand people, whose home has been destroyed during the fightings or who have fled to the camp from the military to seek safety. The camp conditions are indescribably shocking. Families take refuge on an area of four square meters in a kennel-like building, regardless of how many members they consist of. Parents and children sleep together, crowded and cluttered up. Food provisioning is very scant. Families get only six kilos of rice for an entire month. Beside this, only ad hoc donations arrive, however, very unpredictably. Hygienic conditions are abject, people have almost no change of clothes, and those they have are shabby and ragged. The need is immense. The camp inhabitants long for returning to their home, but as there is no peace and safety there anymore, they rather choose the camp and its miserable conditions than the certain death by arms. France is preparing the transport of the relief packages so that when they arrive, their distribution can be carried out quickly and smoothly and the needy can benefit from them as early as possible. France has also visited the recipient hospital that had earlier received two medical bags worth one million forints each from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary. It is now waiting for the hospital beds. The doctor working there is the only gynecologist of the region, and is very grateful for the donations. "Thanks to the medical bags this hospital would be the most equipped one in the region", the doctor said. ...