Rangers In Crisis In Democratic Republic Of Congo
RE: SUPPORT FOR RANGERS URGENTLY NEEDED IN CRISIS SITUATION IN EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC) AND SUPPORT FOR MANY RANGERS WORLDWIDE IN CONFLICT AREAS
As I write you this blog many of our Ranger colleagues and their families (over 1000 people in total) in eastern DRC await an uncertain immediate future. They are unsure if the rebel soldiers under General Ndunka will attack their safety compound in Goma in eastern DRC. They are also unsure if the world, that expects them to protect endangered gorillas on a daily basis, will now act to protect them. For many this is not a new ordeal and.many have had to flee for their lives with their families several times within the last 10 years.
Many have already fled for their lives from outposts in Rumangabo, Kibalti, Kabarazza and others as the rebels launched attacks on their headquarters in Virunga National Park, which is home for over 100 endangered mountain gorillas.
This conflict erupted again in the forgotten corner of DRC, and the rangers and their families were again caught in crossfire. Often rangers and their families suffer as the rebel forces who now live and occupy much of the wilderness areas, come into conflict with rangers on their antipoaching patrols and when rebels/bandits raid the ranger outposts.
In this particular crisis over 50 dedicated rangers stayed on to protect the headquarters and the records of all their hard work at Rumangabo, after sending their families on into uncertainty. . Eventually those rangers were forced to flee as the situation deteriorated and the outcome became obvious as the rebel forces overthrew the government troops.
Some are still unaccounted for after attempting to walk the 40km through rebel held forests towards Goma or other unoccupied outposts. One ranger was enslaved by the government army as they retreated and forced to carry supplies and looted possessions as renegade government soldiers also looted, raped and murdered civilians as they retreated.
Now most of the rangers and their families are in camps, awaiting their future to be determined by governments and warloards who apparently care little for them. Most urgently they need the basics like food, water shelter and medicines just to survive.
Simply put around $90,000 USD needs to be raised immediately to ensure the health, safety and partial security of these rangers from DRC on the frontline of conservation for the next 2 months.
Surely as a world community, this money can be summoned if we as aworld comunity can act.
We as a small NGO have been able donate $10,000 USD through HYPERLINK "http://www.gorilla.cd" www.gorilla.cd for emergency use, but more is urgently needed.( HYPERLINK "http://www.gorilla.cd" www.gorilla.cd is the Rangers own organisation set up with Wildlife Direct staff, another NGO)
Many rangers have already been killed in this conflict. Over 150 rangers have been reported as killed in the line of duty in Virunga National Park alone over the last 10 years. That’s just one National Park!
Worldwide the figure is potentially high as 1000 plus rangers killed over the last 10 years, but we simply dont know yet as the data has only just started to be collected. Many of these rangers families are left destitute and without support from government or international bodies - they simply fall through the gaps.
In Barcelona, as Managing Director of The Thin Green Line Foundation, I signed an agreement with IUCN/ WCPA and the International Ranger Federation to form a partnership between our organisations. The basis of this agreement is to forward the cause of “protecting the protector” ie. the rangers and their families.
Now thoguhwe urgetnly need :
1)To raise $90,000 to secure the rangers and their families for 2 months
$21,594.00 - RATIONS FOR 177 REFUGEE GORILLA RANGERS
We have 177 Rangers who have been forced to evacuate their posts in Virunga National Park as a direct result of the fighting. Rations cost $2/day per Ranger and include beans, rice, manioc flour, tomato, sugar, salt, coffee and salted fish. So the $21,594.00 total is for 177 Rangers for 61 days.
$61,000.00 - Support for Ranger Families at Camp in Goma
At present we have nearly 1,000 (it was 670 when we launched this appeal) people at the camp in Goma that was initially set up on 8 October after the fighting started. These are the wives of Gorilla Rangers and the children of Gorilla Rangers. We are providing food, clean water, sanitation and basic medical. It costs about $1/day per person - and we need provisions for at least 2 months, ie 61 days, which gives us the $61,000 total.
$6,100.00 - Medical Supplies for the Rangers
We must also provide for medical supplies for the 177 Rangers. These medical supplies will include treatments for malaria, fever, and diarrhea. The cost of these supplies is $100/day for all the Rangers. 61 days at $100/day gives us the $6,100.00 total.
You can gain some more direct account and information of this situation from www.gorilla.cd
2) Support in the form of logistical assistance, liaison with government departments and resources needs to be given to protected areas and the rangers in neighboring Uganda and Rwanda where troop movements, refugee activity and rebel activity all threaten the security and safety of the rangers and their protected areas.
3) Outside of this immediate need we also need to look after the families of rangers killed in the line of duty worldwide who are left destitute by the death of the major bread winner. Important areas of focus are:
Providing employment through projects and micro financing opportunities
Housing
Food
Education
4) And prevent further ranger deaths by
implementing community conservation projects and that look at improving social factors around protected areas, thus reducing conflicts with rangers
Providing adequate pay and resources for basic survival of rangers whilst on duty
Providing adequate training and incentives.
We as members of the world community have high expectations of these rangers who RISK THEIR LIVES to protect the natural areas, plants and animals we all cherish and depend upon. These rangers often work with little or no pay and risk their lives for what we all care about.
It’s time the rangers received support from the world community in their time of urgent need now and into the future.
I implore you, with whatever means available, to lend your full support and voice to these rangers and their families on the frontline of conservation through your own networks and further afield.
100% of doantions recieved by The Thin green Line foundation will hit the gorund tm support rangers, thier families and ultimately conservation of our most precious areas.
Many thanks
Sean Willmore
Managing Director
The thin Green Line Foundation Lyd
