Bahati, Abraham
- Country: DR Congo
- Family: Father and mother deceased, other relatives unknown
- Grade: completed primary , needs educational assistance to start secondary level education
Edited email(s):
My story is as follows:
When I was still in my county (Congo), on 7th December 1996 when I was 9 years old during the night I heard people knocking on the door my father opened the door and was shot and killed. My mother cried seriously and when they heard my mother crying, they shot her also, for me I was still asleep. When I woke up I found blood in the sitting room, looking around, I found my father and mother. I thought that they are asleep but I had fear, I started calling my father and mother but I had no response. I cried loudly and then neighbors came around during that night. In the morning at around 10:00 am during the burial ceremony, the rebels came back again and took us in the forest, they gave us guns.
During the war time, I was the one to be on the front line but due to Gods power, I did not die! When we were fighting at a place called Kanyabayonga many people died, everyone ran his own way, I ran without knowing where I was going. I was close to the boarder, there was a very big river but I crossed and reached at place called Kyabuyorwagwa where there were a lot of Refugees. I stayed there alone without eating or drinking water.
I had no one to care for me. On 15th January 1997 the Red cross vehicles came and took us to a place called Matanda. UNCHR tried to give me food but I knew nothing about cooking, I tried to cook, but due to poor cooking I suffered from diarrhea and was about to die.
On 23rd April 1997, we were moved from Matanga to Kyangwali Refugee settlement were I tried to study up to senior three, then I had to stop school since I have no relatives and no one to care for me. When I told UNHCR my problems, they told me there was nothing to do because they had no money to sponsor me.
I speak Kiswahili and English. I do not know where my relatives are, I live with friends.
I had an accident where I was hit by a motorcycle and was taken to the hospital, now am ok.
Yours, Abraham