Editor's Desk: Congo Receives Help

By Michael F. Flach
HERALD Editor
(From the Issue of 7/27/00)

A few weeks ago in this space we mentioned the plight of Bishop Nicholas Djomo in the Diocese of Tshumbe, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bishop Djomo, a former seminary rector, visited the Arlington Diocese during his recent three-week tour of the United States.

In an interview with the HERALD, the bishop recalled how he returned to his diocese in December 1999 following his country’s protracted and bloody civil war. Thanks to the intervention of U.N. troops, the bishop carried back 12 tons of medical supplies for emergency assistance to the dioceses of Tshumbe and Kole, with a combined population of about 1 million people.

In a related development, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) announced last week that it would assist Bishop Djomo in his relief efforts by providing emergency health care items to medical facilities in the Tshumbe Diocese.

"Because of the war and the nation’s difficult economic situation, emergency humanitarian assistance is the only way to alleviate the suffering of the people of Tshumbe," said Kevin Hartigan, CRS Country Representative for Congo.

CRS, in partnership with Tshumbe’s Diocesan Medical Office, is assisting with the distribution of essential medicines and medical supply kits to six general hospitals, two secondary hospitals and 200 health centers and posts. CRS is concentrating its efforts in transporting the much-needed supplies.

"These medicines are essential for treating the most common diseases such as malaria, as well as to enable the provision of basic health care service for Tshumbe," said Hartigan.

The Congo is about one-fourth the size of the United States, with a population of 46 million. There are 47 Catholic dioceses in the country. Tshumbe, located in the geographic center of the country, has 700,000 residents. Nearly 250,000 are Catholic. More than 50 percent of the country’s population is Catholic.

Tshumbe was established as a diocese in 1910 and entrusted to the care of Missionhurst priests, most of whom are from Belgium. There are still many Missionhurst missionaries serving in Congo and most of the congregation’s seminarians are coming from Africa and the Philippines.

CRS, the U.S. bishops’ overseas aid agency, has been active in the Congo since its independence from Belgium in 1960. Programming focuses on justice and peace, community health, agriculture and emergency preparedness and response in isolated and under-served regions.

In 1998, CRS/Congo began working with the Episcopal Conference of the Congolese Catholic Church to develop a three-year program called the National Justice and Peace Project, which focuses on human rights monitoring and conflict resolution. The project provides CRS/Congo with the opportunity to stand in solidarity with the Congolese Catholic Church in its efforts to bring about a more just and peaceful society.

Although Tshumbe suffers from diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, Bishop Djomo said the AIDS epidemic sweeping through other parts of Africa has not surfaced in his diocese. That may change with the influx of soldiers during the recent military conflict, he said.

In addition to medical supplies, Bishop Djomo needs to rebuild the churches, hospitals and schools damaged during the civil war. Missionhurst headquarters in Arlington has agreed to assist Bishop Djomo is coordinating the relief effort. HERALD readers wishing to assist Bishop Djomo in rebuilding his diocese can send a check c/o Missionhurst, 4651 N. 25^th St., Arlington, Va. 22207. Please indicate that the money is for the Tshumbe Diocese. – M.F.F.

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