Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) - "The situation is fairly calm but there is still much insecurity, especially in the evening, when there is a sort of unwritten curfew, so after 8pm nobody leaves the house, because security is not guaranteed" Sister Rosaria Giacone tells Fides, of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Spoleto, who lives and works in Abobo, one of the economic capital areas of Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, which has been mostly devasted by the recent civil war. "There are armed gangs, some formed by gunmen dressed in military uniforms - the sister continues, -. However, compared to previous months, there have been improvements, the UNCI (UN Mission in Côte d'Ivoire) helicopters continue to fly over the neighborhood".
Sister Rosaria, who is a nurse and has been working in the mission areas of health care for 35 years, currently works in the hospital of the area, where, says the nun, "the situation has become even more dramatic because of rising poverty, due to the civil war". "Before the young men were accustomed to the easy life, now they do not go to school and drugs are spreading. I do not know whether it is cocaine, but I know that it circulates and is creating serious problems, because when young people are under the influence of drugs, they do not know what they are doing. Some days ago a drugged boy raped his mother and then killed her", says Sister Rosaria.
The religious woman describes to Fides a dreadful situation: "The war has left untold moral and psychological wounds. For us to talk about reconciliation and forgiveness is easy. But for those who have suffered severe trauma, have lost their loved ones in such a terrible way, it is not easy to deal with the issue. When I spoke of forgiveness to a 7-year-old girl, she cried. I asked her why she was crying and she replied that some militants had killed her parents before her eyes, and then forced her to drink their blood. You can guess what kind of trauma this child has suffered".
"In the parish a group called 'justice, peace and truth' has been formed - the religious woman continues, -. This is a center where people can express the dramas that they carry in their hearts. We allow them to speak to free their hearts from the sufferings that they hold inside. It is a difficult job. Widespread poverty has also pushed many girls into prostitution and in many cases it is the familiy who force girls into prostitution in order to feed the rest of the family".
As far as the health system is concerned, Sister Rosaria underlines that "AIDS and other diseases are increasing. Children are dying due to lack of medicines. Those who are lucky can still obtain them, the rich do not suffer, they do not know what suffering means . The poor are lucky if they eat once a day. We assist patients rejected by other hospitals, like a boy who has necrosis, after being hit by stray bullets. I told those who brought him: 'I am going to offer my expertise and my love, but you give me some 'material to cure him '. This person comes to me 3 times a week to get his wounds cleaned. It is a great joy to see him smile. To alleviate sick peoples suffering they need true compassion, people who truly say 'I love you'. Only love can ensure man’s well-being".
Faced with this situation, Sister Rosaria wanted to start the project "Baobab" to build a school for children of Abobo. "We bought the land where the school will be built and obtained the building permit, after many struggles", says the nun, who explains the importance of this initiative: "If young people do not have a place where to meet in order to be followed and receive education, tomorrow we will have people without a future, more so after a war, sadness and hatred. Therefore, we must heal the spiritual and moral integrity of man. When a child learns to read and write he/she is freed from ignorance and finds his/her dignity. If young people had experienced the culture of peace and love, they would not have sold themselves cheaply to become mercenaries in the last war". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/09/2011)
