The war goes on...
Unfortunately, after almost three
years since the beginning of the disturbances at Central Africa, the situation
has not improved. In Bangui, in particular, there are fights and killings, mostly
among Muslims and non-Muslims. Every incident becomes a cause of retaliation,
killing, looting and destruction, with evil consequences for the people, which
is compelled to flee, leaving houses and those few belongings that hardly could
gain, to go to take refuge in the various sites, from the airport to the different
Missions and Churches.
In our convent of Carmel, the
refugees, who have dropped down below 2,000 in September, now they have
increased, with new arrivals, to quota 7,400. All of these refugees are fleeing
from nearby neighborhoods, which have become battle zone and looting. The road
from Bangui to Bossemptele and Cameroon, the only way through which the Capital
can get provisions, fuel and goods, is practically blocked for over 45 days.
This is the real situation in less than a month from Pope Francis visit to
Central Africa (November 29-30). We do not know if he can come, as we cannot
know if we can go and meet him.
Wednesday afternoon I'm traveling
with the new Sisters of Bozoum (Sr. Lydie, Sr. Christine and Sr. Annita) to
accompany them for a short visit at the center of the diocese. We make a first
stop in Baoro, where we stay with the fathers and the sisters to celebrate the
name day of Fr. Carlo. Thursday we reach Bouar, where we meet the bishop, the Clarisse
nuns and the various communities. We have the joy of seeing Fr. Mathieu, a
Polish priest who was kidnapped in November 2014 and released after about three
weeks. On Friday morning, beside some meetings, we go buying medicines for the
dispensary. Early afternoon we leave under heavy rain. The roads continue worsening:
from Bossemptele to Bozoum, 87 km, it takes now 2 ½ hours of driving. We reach
Bozoum to 7.15pm just in time for dinner. The warm welcome by many communities
is always a beautiful sign of love and communion.
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| Moto, bidone da 200 litri, bagagli, autista e passeggero... e belle strade sur la moto: un fut de 200 litres, des bagages, le chauffeur et un passeger... sur des routes très belles |
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| Sr Lydie, Sr Annita et Sr Christine |
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| Il centro per i malnutriti di Maigaro, con suor Giulia le centre pour les malnurris de Maigaro, avec sr Giulia |
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