Reference :
V-F-CR-F-00573-E
Date :
12/1999
Title :
Congo-Brazzaville : portrait of Elizabeth Twinch, head of delegation
Duration :
00:08:39
Editor :
unknown
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Production company :
ICRC
ICRC producer :
none
Description :
In this forgotten war which has ravaged the Congo-Brazzaville on and off over the last five years, hundreds of thousands of people live out a daily drama. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) estimates that there 500,000 people displaced across the country. Humanitarian agencies describe them as the largest group of forgotten victims of conflict in the world. The opposition to President Denis Sassou Nguesso still controls some areas, but insecurity is endemic: looting, rape and recruitment of child soldiers are rife. In December last year fighting broke out in the southern part of the capital, Brazzaville and in the south of the country.
The fate of dozens of thousands of people hangs in the balance. Many civilians have been forced to live in the forest or the bush. Recently, however, people who had fled the southern suburbs of Brazzaville have started to return home. Every day between July and October up to 2,000 people have struggled home in catastrophic condition. Sick, hungry and maltreated these people either rejoined their families or have been looked after in camps. That was the case for Fortune Ludovic Manouana, 30, a former electrician. He fled Brazzaville five days before Christmas last year for his home village in the north east of the country 130 kilometres (80 miles) away. He returned to the capital almost exactly a year later after walking for six days together with part of his family. He is now home but most of the area where he lived was destroyed in the clashes.
English title :
Congo-Brazzaville : portrait of Elizabeth Twinch, head of delegation
Colour/B&W :
colour
Original material/format :
Betacam SP
Best material/format available :
Betacam SP
To obtain other languages or formats, please contact us
