|
The implications
of what I had done
or maybe not done
only came to me later,
when the guy with
the horns and tail
pointed me in a downward direction,
it was then that I awoke
to find that I was still in Hell,
I was still in Kivu. |
Written by Phil (6832 comments posted) 11th June 2007 | Don't know enough about The Congo (?) to get the reference to Kivu.
Sorry.
Phil |
Written by maipenrai (784 comments posted) 12th June 2007 | | thanks. |
Written by stevetroster (1588 comments posted) 12th June 2007 | I liked the piece for the idea and the form, but like Phil, the Kivu reference tends to deflect you away from the poetry and into the unknown.
As for Kivu being hell? There were refugee camps there in the 90's I believe, but it all depends on who and what you read.
Kivu, region, Congo:
(kēīv, kēvī) , region, c.89,000 sq mi (230,510 sq km), E Congo (Kinshasa). It borders on Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Lake Tanganyika on the east. Kivu is divided into three provinces, Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu, and Maniema. Coffee, cotton, rice, and palm oil are produced, and tin and some gold are mined.
The Ruwenzori Mts., Kahuzi-Biega National Park, and part of Maiko National Park are in the region.
KIVU Nature Inc. was established in 1997 to help bring a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural and cultural worlds. "We offer executive level consulting to leaders in sustainable project development, especially where important heritage natural and cultural resources are involved."
Set in a flamboyant garden, the friendly Orchids' Safari Club waterside hotel has the most spectacular views over the Lake Kivu. This is the starting point for an exciting safari : rafting on the Luhoho river, visiting a tea plantation or trekking through the dense rain forest of Kahuzi-Biega in search of lowland gorillas who despite their formidable strength are gentle and rare patriarchs. To spend a moment with one of nature's great endangered species and also one of our closest relatives is definitely .....The experience of a lifetime !
Sounds okay now though!
Not wishing to devalue your work, but I would like to know what is so hellish about Kivu?
Best wishes
steve. |
Written by maipenrai (784 comments posted) 12th June 2007 | fair point Steve, I will try to explain, first the proxy wars carried out by para-militarys are still going on, inter-tribal ethnic cleansing is still going on, Rwandan backed para-militarys are engaged in fighting the weaker goverment forces in the area, un forces are still engaged in fighting various para-military forces, trying to bring some kind of stability.
on the other hand if you cross over to Rwanda you can have that holiday of a lifetime, but be sure to keep both your eyes closed.
further and much more better details of what is going on can be found on the following sites.
www.reliefweb.int
alertnet.com
reliefweb is the site of UNOCHA ( United Nations Office Civil Humanitarien Affairs)
alertnet is run by the Reutars News Group
thanks for your interest guys.
Bernie
ps. I am going to put up a piece called believe it or not KIVU, this is circa 2004 when I was working there |
Written by stevetroster (1588 comments posted) 12th June 2007 | Not an easy site to navigate, but got there in the end.
A crisis is looming for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the eastern part of the country.
The various localised conflicts, particularly in the eastern part of DRC, continue fuelling significant displacements of rural populations.
Currently, there is a likelihood of an additional 360,000 IDPs in North and South Kivu.
Trouble is, stick a needdle in a map of Africa and you'd probably get the same result.
'Tis a strange place. |
Written by maipenrai (784 comments posted) 12th June 2007 | Tell the truth mate, i have worked in some bad places but nothing like the DRC, did you notice whilst on the website that a young female aid worker with MSF as been shot and killed in Chad, MSF Report their convoy was targeted.
not that many years ago if you were working in aid you felt you had some kind of protection simply by the fact that you were a aid worker, not today mate, the bastards do target aid workers, soft target you see. |
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