Are aid organizations in a position to meet people’s needs?
Due to the insecurity and the lack of roads, it is very difficult for humanitarian organizations to work in the region. For those same reasons, MSF has to travel mostly by air. Today, humanitarian aid is largely unable to meet people’s needs, whether they have been displaced or are from this area. That is why we continue our plea to other humanitarian organizations to come and set up a permanent presence here in Haut-Uélé and Bas-Uélé. The presence of organizations like MSF brings not only medical and humanitarian aid, but also a degree of normality. I will tell you an anecdote: when we arrived in Niangara for the first time, the hospital was operating as best it could, but it was in a pitiful condition and surrounded by very long grass. While kick-starting the medical activities, the MSF team also started cutting the grass. Over the next few days, and still today, we noticed that all over town, people were cutting the grass. I found that very symbolic.
