A few days before Christmas, CARE teamed up with partner organizations to distribute relief items in displacement camps around Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu. Due to a recent surge in violence, more than 150,000 people have been newly displaced in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Countless sporadic settlements have sprung up around Goma, with most shelters mainly consisting of sheets and flimsy wooden frames. The families occupying them lack basic essentials to meet their needs, especially during the rainy season.

To bring some relief for those in need, CARE helped distribute relief items including kitchen appliances, blankets and plastic sheeting. In total, CARE and partner organizations distributed 17,519 kits in and around Goma. In the Mugunga I displacement camp alone, CARE and its local partners, Sanoki and ETN, distributed 5,301 kits. Below are the comments of some of the beneficiaries:
 (Photo: CARE/Sabine Wilke)

“My name is Mwamini Bagirisha, I am 20 years old. I’ve lived in Mugunga camp since April 28, 2012, fleeing the conflict between the government forces and the M23 group.

Since I have come from the territory of Masisi to Goma, we have received support two times. First, the Red Cross gave us food and plastic sheeting, then the government distributed some food, too. But when M23 took over Goma in November, we lost everything, again. The fighting happened here, just right outside of our camp.

I am very happy to receive these relief items, because now I can cover my hut again. The cooking utensils and clothes will help us, too.  But all I really want is to return to my home village and bring in the harvest. We had to leave our land and the fields when we fled in April.”
(Photo: CARE/Sabine Wilke)

“My name is Florence Hategeka and I am 19 years old. I come from Rutushuru, both my mother and father have passed away. I have come to this camp, Mugunfa, about four weeks ago with my two little brothers. We live in a hut covered with leaves from trees. Every time it rains, we suffer.

Now that we have received this plastic sheeting, I am sure that our situation will improve. We are thankful for this support. Our hope is to return to our home village where we had to leave our land and the food we used to grow because of the war.”
 (Photo: CARE/Sabine Wilke)

My name is Bigirimana Anicet and I am 25 years old.

I’ve left my home in Rutshuru about five months ago. First, I settled in a camp called Kanyarutsinya, but after Goma had been seized by the M23 group, I had to flee to Mugunga with my family. I am a husband and father of three. My wife is sick, so I have come to this distribution with one of my children. Before, we were literally empty handed, because all the assistance that we received in Kanyarutsinya camp was lost when we had to flee. Now I am very happy to receive this support, especially the plastic sheeting for our shelter. This will help improve our difficult lives here."

The One Million Bones challenge is mobilizing students worldwide to make bones as a symbol of solidarity with victims and survivors of ongoing conflict in places like the DRC and Somalia. Every handmade bone generates $1 from the Bezos Family Foundation for CARE's work in these regions, up to $500,000!

In June, 2013, one million handmade bones – made by students, educators and artists – will cover the National Mall in Washington, D.C. as part of a massive art installation and visual petition against humanitarian crises. Become one in a million:  Take the challenge today and show the Congolese people that the world sees and cares about their struggle for peace.