Seruvugo Rutikanga Raphael had been in a refugee center in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, for more than a month without any assistance.
She was sleeping on the ground with her children, without a blanket, without extra clothes, or a pot for cooking — one of an estimated 450,000 people who have been affected by conflict in the area, with the vast majority of them living in temporary housing such as churches and schools.
The makeshift sites are overcrowded, with unhygienic conditions and little privacy. As people abandon their homes and flee the fighting, they arrive at refugee centers with few belongings. They need food, shelter, clean water and essential household items like cooking supplies and bedding, explained Jennifer Lazuta with Catholic Relief Services.
From May 2022 to January 2023, Lazuta said that Catholic Relief Services and Caritas were able to use funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to provide emergency kits to 3,800 displaced families — including sleeping mats, blankets, cooking utensils and clothing. They also provided safe and improved shelter for more than 2,000 displaced families and hygiene kits to 3,800 women and girls.
Catholic Relief Services and Caritas carefully chose recipients based on their needs and gave priority to orphans, breastfeeding women, pregnant women, the disabled and the elderly, according to a report from the Church’s Africa Newsroom.
Raphael was one of the women who received an emergency kit: “I now sleep on a mat, my children can get dressed without problems, and I have pots and pans to prepare food for my family.”
How Catholic Relief Services and Caritas work with the Church in DRC
Catholic Relief Services works with organizations around the world to help poor and vulnerable people overcome emergencies, while Caritas is inspired by the Catholic faith and is a confederation of members in almost every country of the world.
Lazuta told the Church News that the organizations have worked with the Church in the past in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been affected by conflict since 2016.
From example, from April 2018 through October 2018, the Church funded an emergency WASH program — water, sanitation and hygiene — implemented by Catholic Relief Services in the country. And Catholic Relief Services worked with Caritas to rehabilitate water access points or boreholes for thousands of people who have been displaced in the fighting or returning home after fleeing from conflict.
As for their current project, a new phase will begin for the next nine months to not only provide aid but also psychosocial support and conflict resolution programming.
Taylor Landon, head of programs for Catholic Relief Services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, spoke about these collaborations.
“CRS and our partners [including the Church], remain committed to helping those displaced by the conflict meet their basic needs and promoting their well-being and dignity,” Lanton said. “The volatile security context in the area, the constant movement of populations and the increasing number of displaced families make it more challenging to reach those in need, but together we are working to ensure that they receive this life-saving aid.”
Besides Raphael, two other women shared their gratitude for the aid in a report shared with the Church News.
Dusabe Ndungutse Esperance thanked Caritas, Catholic Relief Services and the Church “through this gift that you have just offered us. For me, you are the envoys of God. Long life to your organizations.”
And Nzabandora Chimanizane Josephine said, “We are very happy with these good quality kits. Since we have been here, we have never received assistance like this. Thank you so much, may God bless you abundantly.”
