Africa, DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Goma, Lake Kivu, Hotel Cap Kivu. Global Fund for Women. PAIF project. Dusabe Tumaini (32 years), Rehema (baby, one week). I’m from Masis in the Congo, where 90% of the women are raped and many people are killed everyday. There’s no presence of government there, only bandits, locals carrying guns. I was married with 7 children. One day I went into the forest to collect firewood and I was attacked and raped by four men in military uniforms. They left me to die but some local villagers found me and brought me to a hospital. I didn’t want anyone to know I had been raped but it was soon discovered that I was pregnant. When my husband found out I was raped he ran away and left me with the 7 children. He was afraid of AIDS. And when he found out I was pregnant he didn’t want to raise someone else’s baby. Eventually his family and our pastor talked him into returning. Rehema was born a week ago. Now we say we have 7 children and this one. My husband said at least it’s girl, she can be useful and work and bring in cows when she marries. <br />
PAIF has helped to move away from that terrible area and we now live in their temporary housing in Goma. Because we’re displaced people the children don’t go to school.  My life changed that day I went to collect firewood in the forest.

Congo gender based violence

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Africa, DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Goma, Lake Kivu, Hotel Cap Kivu. Global Fund for Women. PAIF project. Dusabe Tumaini (32 years), Rehema (baby, one week). I’m from Masis in the Congo, where 90% of the women are raped and many people are killed everyday. There’s no presence of government there, only bandits, locals carrying guns. I was married with 7 children. One day I went into the forest to collect firewood and I was attacked and raped by four men in military...
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  • Date: 3 Oct 2014
  • Location: Goma Lake Kivu Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Filename: AWright_DRC_10027.jpg
  • Image size: 7360x4912 pixels