News from Boga Diocese

News from Boga Diocese in the Democratic Republic of Congo sent by Bishop Isingoma (who will be visiting St John's from 5th-8th July):

Overall the security in Boga Diocese has improved dramatically in the past 15 months, but on 6th February Bukiringi, 20km north of Boga on the road to Bunia, was attacked by a group of militia, which looted homes and the Health Centre. The population fled into the surrounding bush, and almost 300 people walked to Boga, where they were welcomed and given shelter.

Nurse Kule, with his wife Tauka who works as mid-wife at the health centre, reported that almost all the equipment from the health centre was taken: bicycle, medicines,18 mattresses, fridge, and other equipment. Only the microscope was safe! In addition their own personal possessions and those of other families in the village were looted, as well as a huge stock of food – 80 sacks of groundnuts which the population had laboured so hard to produce.

This comes towards the end of dry season so food stocks were low anyway. Thankfully homes were not burnt down or destroyed. 5 days later the army retook the village, but it has taken several more weeks till the population felt confident to start to return and rebuild their lives – yet again!

Bp Isingoma writes: Is this the last step of the war? That is our prayer: but fighters’ attitude doesn’t inspire durable peace. Kule and Tauka wrote afterwards: Despite this destruction, we are determined to continue the reconstruction and organisation of the Bukiringi Health Centre so that it may be a model centre in the whole of the health zone and Diocese of Boga!

Please pray for these courageous and dedicated health workers, as they seek to serve the very needy population in Bukiringi and its surrounding villages, and re-establish the health centre; pray also for the church and its leaders in Bukiringi and the wider population.

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Neema Gospel Singers - Amani Imepotea.