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Key people: George Atido and Pastor Bingi
It had been the intention of the BHW team go to Bunia in 2023 and again in 2024. However, on advice from our partners it was decided to bring them out of the country to meet us, rather than us go there this year. This is because of the current security issues caused by the activity of militia groups in Ituri Province around Bunia.
George therefore came to Kampala, Uganda for three days to talk to us. Unfortunately, we did not get to meet Pastor Bingi. It would have been good to talk to him as there are some changes going on in the LASI ministry.
LASI began as an HIV/AIDS ministry for local people in Bunia. Pastor Bingi was leading a church and noticed the plight of many people stricken by HIV/AIDS, so he began assisting them to get treatment and grow spiritually.
As the AIDS crisis diminished and ARVs became available, the militia groups began their activities and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) began to come into camps organized by the UN. Many of those people arrived in the camps injured or sick and had no resources to obtain treatment. So, Bingi responded and became involved with them, advocating with the hospital so they could get treatment. BHW discovered him doing that in 2019 and began to support his work. He had racked up a huge debt at the hospital and had come to the end of his capacity to help.
He also helped establish a refugee school that BHW assisted for two years (DRC03d) while it was being established. That has subsequently been handed over to the government.
The focus of LASI has shifted again. There is more organization in the IDP camps now, but there are many more displaced people in the Bunia area who are not officially registered and who get no help. So, Pastor Bingi is now concentrating on and advocating for them in the areas of health, education and housing. He visits them in their situation and advocates, helps them get registered, networks and liaises with the authorities. Whatever their issues are, he tries to help. It is more informal than before, but amongst the neediest of people.
He is under similar pressure to George and because he has a reasonably high profile, he has had to register with the government to be able to continue his work. This has meant he has had to go to Kinshasa and has incurred a lot of costs.
He recently received a national award from the government for the work he has been doing. This may not necessarily be a good thing as he is now in the limelight.
Here is a story from a recent edition of Missionary Aviation Fellowship’s (MAF) newsletter:
Many refugees are staying with family and friends in Bunia and nearby. The mother of one MAF staff member has 32 relatives staying in her small house. She said that a local Congolese Christian volunteer group is trying to help with food and clothing for the refugees, but they are unable to meet the needs. Cooking pots and food preparation items are scarce. The camp has also run out of the tarps that people use to construct makeshift tents.
MAF’s Disaster Response Department has allocated funds to provide food for the refugee camp. On Wednesday, March 7, MAF conducted three flights for people wanting to leave the area, and returned to Bunia with rice, maize meal, beans, and oil. In Bunia they purchased 1,200 plates and 1,150 cups. MAF is partnering with LASI, operated by Rev. Bingi, to distribute the food and supplies.
“They were down to their last bag of rice and last six bags of maize meal, it felt like we were able to really make a difference in these peoples’ lives. But it is still a drop in the bucket for the 45,000 people there and the rest that are with family and friends.”
Right now, Bingi is busy but is not entirely sure how things will develop. He has no specific plans for projects, he’s just getting on with all the need in front of him.
He had been stuck in Kinshasa just prior to George visiting with us so they were not able to talk. When George gets back to Bunia, he will catch up with Bingi and have a discussion and translate a report he has recently received. We will present that when it comes.
Current Issues and ChallengesThe overwhelming number of displaced people coming into Bunia.
The pressure from the government people for him to comply with regulations which are not conducive to effective delivery of care.
1) That Pastor Bingi will be kept safe as he deals with many difficult situations and with people in authority
2) That he will be able to connect the displaced to people who can help them physically and spiritually
Bingi is a good man with a heart for the people we want to see helped. This is an emergency aid situation and most of those he works with are in survival mode. Until the situation around this region is resolved, there will always be people in these circumstances.
As mentioned above, we should get a report from Bingi soon. At that time, we will assess what he is doing and whether or not we should continue in partnership with him. George is positive about what is happening, but it is harder to understand when Bingi is not operating from a fixed location and is working around the community.