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23 rangers still missing, one dead

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Nov 01 2008 | By: paula

Fears of a refugee crisis in the region is fueling the pace for Congo talks to end the crisis. Talks are hoped to lead to a ceasefire, and real progress towards a lasting peace agreement.

Meanwhile the Virunga National Park  and ICCN staff are not faring very well. It was very saddening to read Diddy post on the Official Virunga website, describing the impossible situation that some rangers are in. Some have remained in Rumangabo and are more or less cut off from communication. Others have been trying to reach Goma through a 40 km hike through the forest which is occupied by rebel forces. They seem to be separating and are appearing in small numbers in Goma, exhausted and sick. However,  as of now, 23 rangers are apparently lost. Two rangers were arrested and with Emmanuels intervention were released, 9 rangers in the refugee camp have cholera, while one ranger, Louis Kabwana, who was sick and in hospital has died. He had worked for the Park since 1971. My he rest in peace.

According to this map on Gorilla.cd Nkundas troops seem to have control of the entire park, Diddy says they are apparently moving north. It’s not clear if anyone knows what his strategy is.

An emergency fund raising effort is underway on gorilla.cd, we are also raising funds for the rangers here on WildlifeDirect to support the ICCN rangers caught in this conflict. All donations made on this blog will contrubite towards the humanitarian crisis facing the rangers in Goma and Rumangabo.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support to date.

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3 Responses to “23 rangers still missing, one dead”

Tony Raizis, on 01 Nov 2008

This is absolutely tragic news. The UN and EU among others should have seen this coming ages ago. They have failed to act, waiting for a humanitarian crisis to escalate before even thinking about intervening. I suspect that talks will lead nowhere, as even when a peace agreement is signed it isn’t worth the paper it is written on.
Without knowing the full circumstances of the region, I recommend that rather than aim to proactively engage with the rebels, any military assistance should be used to secure strategic positions, and aim to block supply lines to the rebels, if this is possible. The goal should be rebel isolation from outside supplies. Achieving this goal would be a first step towards rebel disarmament. While the rebels enjoy freedom of movement and adequate supplies, they will hold the strategic initiative.
Only when the rebels are disarmed, will they be ready to talk and abide by peace agreements. I don’t think they will ever disarm voluntarily.
The rangers should never have been left at the mercy of heavily armed rebels wandering around Virunga park. This issue can no longer simply be settled with words and signing pieces of paper.

Annie, on 02 Nov 2008

So sorry to hear this..my condolences to Louis’s family..I will try to donate soon! Please be careful all…..What a mess…..is the world even paying attention??????

Dylan Presman, on 03 Nov 2008

It sounds like the situation is unbearable on the ground and my thanks and admiration go out to Emmanuel, Diddy, Innocent and all the rangers and park staff, who are all heros. I do want to point out that the 9 reported cases of cholera are not actually reangers, but individuals in the refugee camp set up to house the rangers’ families. Not that it is any less tragic.The conditions in the camps are dreadful. Thankfully Emmanuel was able to negotiate for supplies of clean water to be brought to the camp. Lets hope it is enough.

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