Atosha, a Congolese refugee, recalled the harrowing experience of crossing the fast-flowing Rusizi River to escape escalating conflict in her hometown. As civil unrest deepened, driven by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, she felt compelled to flee. Tragically, while she successfully crossed, her younger sisters were swept away by the river's current. Atosha's account highlights the dire consequences of the ongoing violence in eastern DRC, where families face life-threatening decisions amid fears of attacks and systemic violence against civilians, particularly women and children.
I was terrified, the 23-year-old said of her journey of about 130 metres, spent clinging to a makeshift float alongside a young man whom she had paid to take her to the Burundian side.
If there's a way for you to go to Burundi, do it today because the fighting is coming here tonight and it's bad. People are getting killed and women and girls are being raped.
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