Since their parents were murdered by Congolese rebels six years prior, Jason Kandeke and his sister Esther were reunited with their family for the first time when they jumped out of the van and raced into the arms of their uncle and grandmother who were sobbing.
In the southeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where militia groups have been warring for years over territory and resources, militias assaulted their community of Mingele.
Esther, now 14 years old, and Jason, now 12 years old, both escaped to another hamlet and were taken in. Their caregivers were also killed in another attack earlier this year.
The Red Cross was able to track down their uncle, Jean Ilunga Kandeke, hundreds of kilometers distant in the town of Manono after receiving their information from a friend.
They traveled to their new home this week in a plane full of other kids. As they approached their new front door, neighbors gathered around them.
“Being at home with my own family makes me very happy. My parents’ passing was difficult, but I’m now incredibly happy with my uncle. I want to go to school, learn, and act like a regular kid “said Jason.
The Upper Katanga, North Kivu, East Kasai, and Kinshasa provinces were all served by 11 aircraft between July 6 and 8, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Florence Anselmo, head of the ICRC’s Central Tracing Agency, said, “This work takes a lot of time, but it is very vital and invaluable, allowing us to give answers to individuals living in pain.
The ICRC said that more children are being taken away from their families, notably in North Kivu region where the M23 rebel group has recently resumed its onslaught.
