Back in Africa

September 16th, 2008

Nairobi airport. I clearly remember the last time that I was here, two years ago. On the way home after a wonderful vacation in Kenya and Tanzania. I sat here in a coffee shop across from a friend, with tears in my eyes. So sad that our vacation was over and I had to leave Africa behind.

From that day on, I was hooked. I returned to Africa nine months later for my first mission with MSF in Congo-Brazzaville. And once again, after being home for four and a half months, I’ve left my wonderful life in Amsterdam and am now on my way to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I’m trading in my safe haven, surrounded by my loving family and friends, for a place where violence against civilians is a daily reality. Why am I already going again? The thought crosses my mind sometimes. However, I know the answer will quickly come back to me.

I fly to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, by way of Nairobi. At the airport, I meet my first colleague, the project’s financial coordinator. She’s an extremely friendly woman, we click immediately. An MSF car picks us up here and we drive from Kigali to Goma, the coordination point for the project in North Kivu. Rwanda is a country that I’ve read and heard so much about. At first, I wasn’t sure what it would be like. But the country that I see, the land of a thousand hills, is beautiful. Every piece of ground is under cultivation and where there is still a patch of grass, you will find a football field. And the roads—wow!—they are the best asphalt roads I have ever driven on in Africa. After a few formalities, we cross the border rather quickly. On the other side of the border, the asphalt ends and I enter another world. Welcome to the DRC!

Goma is a city full of NGOs and soldiers. Here I meet a hard-working and highly motivated coordination team. I arrive at a hectic time. Last week, fighting between the various warring parties broke out again in North Kivu. Many people have been forced to flee once more. Efforts are made to coordinate everything but the situation changes by the hour.

It’s unclear if I can reach my project. The road to the project may be closed due to the fighting. After two days of briefings by the coordination team in Goma, the road is deemed safe and I can continue on to Kitchanga.

Tags: Violence