The Princess of Monaco Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline and the Brazilian Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo  His Excellency Paoulo UCHOA  have visited  the Internal Displaced Persons camp in Mungote in Kitchanga  situated about 80 km west of Goma  and hosting over 15 thousand people on the 28 of September 2016.

While interacting with the women leaders in the camp Princess Caroline said   “she has come to see the situation on the ground so as to seek ways and means to assist the women who are leaving in very difficult/deplorable conditions as they were running away from their homes  in Kibuye as a result of fighting and insecurity from negative armed groups including the CNDP /PARECO war,  rape, all forms of harassment from armed groups like Nyatura and others in the area”.

The Princess told the women that she was the President of the World Association of friends of Children / Association Mondale des amis des enfants (AMAD) and as such, she cares for the wellbeing of women and children. She promised to plead /lobby with government authorities, international community and organizations to improve on their miserable condition.

In the same vain, the Brazilian Ambassador pledged his support to the women who were leaving in very difficult conditions in the Mungote IDP camp in Kitchanga.
On their part the women and girls leaders presented a long list of their problems and difficulties to include, lack of food because they do not own farms, no access to education for their children, no good health facilities, no good hygienic conditions. These conditions make them vulnerable, especially  the young girls are exposed to prostitution as a means of livelihood . The boys also are involved in rape, banditry and other illegal activities.  

The women and girl leaders also told the princess to appeal on their behalf to their government that they will like to go back to their villages where they have left their farms and homes as they were running from the CNDP and PARECO war .

According to the women, they have been surviving thanks to assistance from UNHCR,UNWFP  and other UN Agencies.

Princess Caroline, the Brazilian Ambassador and delegation later visited a local bakery which  acts as an income generating activity to the women, a manual bricks manufacturing plant and a  primary School “EP BWIRIANGULA” where they also interacted with the School authorities, teachers and pupils.

It should be noted that the Mungote camp with over 15 thousand IDPs,  is one out of 47 present  in North Kivu.

The visit was spiced with a traditional dance by the women.

Martha Biongo /PIO in Goma