Nyiragongo eruption: some displaced people have decided to return to Goma
Residents of Goma gather with jerry cans around a water point in a lava-covered field, May 25, 2021. AFP - MOSES SAWASAWA
Text by: RFI Follow
8 mins
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while the volcanic activity around the city of Goma is still a source of concern, nearly 14,000 people have left their homes since last Thursday and crossed the Rwandan border, following a partial and preventive evacuation order.
Some of these displaced people returned home on Saturday, May 29.
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With our special
correspondent in Rubavu,
Laure Broulard
The camp which had been hastily set up in recent days in Rugerero, a few kilometers from the Congolese border, is entirely empty this Saturday evening.
This morning, several Rwandan army trucks came to pick up the displaced persons who had expressed the desire to return to their homes.
Many wanted to find their belongings, left behind, or to believe that the risks of a new eruption are now minimal given the decline in earthquakes.
Aimable Harugumana is eager to resume his life: “
I am very happy to return to my country.
We took info from neighbors and family who stayed.
With us, there are no more tremors and the volcano no longer spits lava.
"
Reluctantly return for others
According to the UNHCR, at least 1,500 people have made their way back, out of nearly 4,000 people received in Rugerero.
For her part, Charlotte Fura returns almost reluctantly: “
We are afraid, because we have left the houses unattended and we do not know if we will find our things.
We don't know what's going on on the other side.
We don't know if we're going to have to come back here again.
"
In 2002, during the last eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano, Charlotte had already fled to Rwanda with her two parents… This time, she took her three children: “
We are afraid of this volcano, but we have no the choice.
We have nowhere else to go.
But when the earth trembles the children cry.
They are demoralized.
"
Désirée had left Goma to find refuge in Sake, as advised by the authorities.
But there was neither water nor food there.
"The governor told us that we had to leave Goma, but until now, we haven't even prepared anything for us, to eat, or mattresses."
Désirée, a resident returned to Goma
For me, I decided to go back to Goma because we don't eat anymore, explains Désirée.
We left on foot.
It is really very far from here.
It's more than 28km (...) Even my little sister was lost, I don't know how I'm going to see her again.
The governor told us that we had to leave Goma, but until now, we haven't even prepared anything for us, food, or mattresses.
Waiting for the green light from the authorities
The others, that is to say those who prefer to wait for the green light from the Congolese authorities or who no longer have a home in Goma, were taken to another camp, a little further away, in Busasamana.
They joined displaced people there who arrived just after the first eruption of Nyiragongo on May 22.
These displaced people also say that they cannot return home because their house and their fields have been completely charred by the lava.
“Some thought it was just log fires.
So we kept looking and saw things coming out of the volcano.
So we ran to Rwanda.
And the washes were running behind us. ”
Those who decide to stay in Rwanda, in the Busasamana camp
Laure broulard
Between the cabbage fields and volcanic rocks, the UNHCR is erecting tents for the displaced people who did not wish to return to Goma.
Damien and his family are one of them.
"
There are many who returned to Goma
," explains Damien.
In principle, the danger is not eliminated.
And for us to leave here, we need to have the guarantee that the danger is over.
"
The Busasamana camp opened north of Rubavu earlier this week to accommodate those who fled directly after the May 22 lava flows, such as Bayahure.
“
We were preparing food,
” she says.
And there we saw smoke rising over the volcano.
Some thought it was just log fires.
So we kept looking and saw things coming out of the volcano.
So we ran to Rwanda.
And the washes were running behind us.
"
No return in sight for Joseph either.
“
We were told by phone that our house was burnt down,”
he recalls.
Here in Rwanda we came with nothing.
So we're going to need help rebuilding our house.
We don't even have a pan, we don't have any material, we need help with everything.
"
According to the UNHCR, the Busasamana camp hosted around 2,000 displaced people yesterday.
►Also read: DRC: Goma evacuated in the face of disaster risks related to the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano
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