Life in Mubimbi: A New Beginning for Gatumba Flood Victims

Far from the furnace of Gatumba and its infernal din, on the borders of Bujumbura, a stone’s throw from the RN1, Mubimbi welcomed the “survivors” from ​Gatumba. How do they experience this change in space and life? And above all,⁤ what is​ their state of mind?

On a sunny afternoon⁢ in August, a group of adventurers set off on the RN1 to spend a few days where the climate is milder.⁣ Among​ them were ⁤reporters, photographers, videographers,‍ etc. The idea ⁤was to see anything out of‍ the ordinary and pay attention to it. One of the group members recalled that the Gatumba‍ flood victims were relocated to Mubimbi. “What if we went on a trip there?” he suggested.⁣ We agreed and arrived in Kinama, inquiring to find out exactly where the site of the⁢ displaced people was.

A Challenging but Beautiful Landscape

We left the ⁤macadamized road to turn left, then slalomed on steep ⁢hill ridges of ‌”Rural”.⁤ The landscape was magnificent, but it’s not very practical for setting up a site for displaced people. The land is certainly uneven, but if the residents are comfortable there, why wouldn’t the⁣ displaced people live there? We crossed Muzazi and Rugogo⁢ hills before reaching Gisagara, where we⁣ found ourselves in front ⁢of a sign stating that ‍we had reached the famous site, which is on top of a high hill.

Ministerial Shoots and UNICEF-Branded‍ Tents

People came and went in the camp. Children were playing and shouting, men in⁤ rubber boots with registers under their armpits, young people relaxing⁣ in the shade, several white tents in good ‌condition stamped ⁤UNICEF. Life seemed to go⁤ on as ⁢usual, even if it seemed to happen slowly. We split up to go to⁢ people. I took the right and came across a group of‌ children​ playing. One⁤ of them played a pastor. I quietly approached and heard: “Jesus loves you, ⁢I love‍ you, and ⁢you will prosper.” There is hope, I said to myself.

4,203 Children at the Gisagara Site

I continued to⁢ talk to the children: “Have you eaten?” “Yes, but‍ if⁤ you have things to⁣ offer⁣ us, we’ll take it” ⁤answered the group’s joke, which provoked general⁣ laughter in the audience. I left the group of children and continued to visit the website. Around a row of tents, I discovered a group of young people kicking a football on⁣ a flat field. Further on, I came across one of⁤ the men in rubber ‌boots chatting with one‌ of the friends ⁣I brought. I greeted him⁣ and took the opportunity to start‍ a conversation. Fortunately,​ he was one ‌of the camp ⁣supervisors.

I‍ gathered some information: the​ site‌ is home to some 1062 households, exactly 6,184 souls ⁣living here. Among them, 4,203 children. I was surprised at the ‌high proportion of children, but ⁤the gentleman explained to me: there are not many parents because some have brought their wives and children and have returned to watch over their property where they⁤ have been lived before.

UNICEF’s Support

The gentleman gave us the ⁣magic sentence: “Fortunately, we are looking after all these beautiful people thanks to the support of partners like UNICEF.” Exactly, in terms of​ support, the day we got ​there, one of the organizations working at the Gisagara‍ site was registering the Sim cards of⁢ the victims. Instead ​of continuing to deliver food, which requires heavy logistics, he chose to transfer money electronically. So each household will be entitled to 140,000 Fbu for 20 days, we learned ‍from the beneficiaries.

UNICEF operates⁢ whether at the level of social support or at ‌the level of health. This is because⁤ the people affected by the bad weather in ⁤Gatumba have been traumatized by what they experienced, especially the children who are ⁤very vulnerable. It also intervenes in health care, without forgetting children’s education. UNICEF does not act alone ⁢to make its action effective. ‌Don’t⁤ they say that? “Alone, we go faster, ⁣but together we go ​further”. ‌It operates together with⁢ other partners such as WHO, World Relief, SAD (Social Action for‍ Development), UNICEF partner.