DR Congo: Armed violence in Tanganyika is depriving people of health care
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In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Tanganyika Province, the armed violence that has raged for the past three years has seriously compromised access to health care. People living north-west of the provincial capital of Kalemie must often face illness alone as medical facilities are attacked and looted.
"Without health care, three of my children died from malnutrition and diarrhoea."
In 2017, communal violence and armed conflict broke out around Maurice Mwema's hometown of Kilasi, 80 kilometres from Kalemie. He and his family fled to the bush for shelter. They stayed for almost three years, unable to leave owing to the safety risks. "We got sick from the frequent rain and poor nutrition," says Maurice. "The children's hair turned yellow, and they turned to skin and bones."