"They fired at me twice. There was nobody to help me": surviving the crisis in Kasaï

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The conflict in Greater Kasaï broke out in 2016. It was brutal. Thousands of people were killed, dozens of mass graves were discovered. Over one million were forced to displace. This crisis has been underreported. violence has gone beyond the five provinces of Greater Kasaï. Today people in Central Kasaï are going back to their lives, but face poverty and starvation. Awilo was injured in August, and his wounds are struggling to cicatrice. He is recovering at the General Hospital of Kananga.

Awilo Longomba, Kasaï conflict victim (Language: Tshiluba)

“I was riding my bike with the goods I had to sell. I came across a militia group in the forest and they fired at me. The first bullet just brushed against me. The fired again and the bullet hit me in my shoulder blade, I fell down. There was nobody to help me. I took my shirt and as I was beeding a lot, I tied a bit around my leg and another piece around my arm. After some time someone helped me and then it took some time before I could be transported to the hospital”.