The War is Over - Now What Happens to the Children?

Stouffville, ON, July 21, 2010 - The civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) may be over, but millions of children are still losing their lives while others sustain permanent injuries as the rebel fighting continues.

“Since the DR Congo war began in 1998, 2.5 million innocent children have died,” says Ed Epp, Executive Director, cbm Canada. “We know from experience, that for every child that dies as a result of conflict, three more are left with a disability.”

The majority of deaths are preventable. Mortalities stem from neglected shrapnel injuries, infectious diseases, malnutrition, and neonatal and pregnancy-related conditions.

“Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, cbm Canada, through its dedicated partners in the DR Congo, is saving the lives of children at risk and giving them hope for a brighter future,” says Epp.

Children like Ganiko and Mbombo.

Nine-year-old Ganiko of Northern Uganda was enjoying a routine ride in a pickup truck when the vehicle’s wheel ran over a hidden landmine. Shrapnel flew everywhere, ripping apart Ganiko’s lower face and fracturing his jaw. 

Ganiko’s fractured jaw quickly became infected due to the lack of adequate medical services nearby. After travelling more than a day by road to cbm’s project in Kampala, specialized plastic surgeons cleaned his wound, plated the fractured jaw, and grafted a section of skin from Ganiko’s thigh to replace the badly damaged skin around his lower face.

It was difficult microsurgery, connecting vessels from the tissue in the boy’s neck to the skin from the thigh. Although Ganiko’s scars will never completely heal, cbm’s surgery is responsible for saving his life.

cbm is also saving lives in the DR Congo.

Fideline’s husband hasn’t been seen by his family since he was conscripted into the army two years ago.

Fleeing from the conflict in the Eastern DR Congo with her two daughters – Mbombo, 5, and Mwemy, 2 – Fideline has no money for food, shelter, or health care.

Fideline fears for Mbombo’s sight and life because she has developed a serious eye disease, a staphyloma (a bulging cornea) in her left eye.

The local church advised Fideline to bring her daughter to cbm’s St. Joseph’s Eye Hospital in Kinshasa. Mbombo will now receive the life-saving care she needs with eye surgery.

cbm is saving lives and preventing disability in the DR Congo and Northern Uganda by:

• Providing eye care, orthopaedic and plastic surgery for children injured/disabled as a result of conflict.
• Community-based rehabilitation – cbm’s co-workers determine the urgent needs of children with disabilities and provide the ongoing care children need to cope with their disabilities.
• Fistula surgery and counselling for young women who are survivors of rape, helping them to heal physically and psychologically before they return to their communities.

Funds are urgently needed to support cbm’s work in the DR Congo and Northern Uganda:

• $60 can provide two months of care for a child like Ganiko
• $200 can provide eye surgery for a child like Mbombo

To rescue a vulnerable child with life-changing medical and follow-up care click here or to learn more about cbm Canada’s Forgotten Child Sponsorship program or call 1-800-567-2264.

A leading international Christian humanitarian organization, cbm works to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. 

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Media Contact:
Sandy Hazell
National Media Coordinator
cbm Canada
shazell@cbmcanada.org
1-800-567-2264 ext 246
(416) 302-3166