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16 Responses to “Rebels have taken Rumangabo military base; Rangers under threat at park station”

1. virginia Says: 8 Oct 2008

   This is so frustrating Sam. I am so angry that the world doesn’t have a clue of what is going on over there. I pray fro Linda, Balemba, Pierre, Norbert, Rangers and their families to be safe.

2. lisah Says: 8 Oct 2008

   This is awful! I agree with Virginia, so frustrating, On our news channels here, I have not heard a word about the outside world, unless it pertains to the financial situation around the world. That’s all their talking about. That and our election. I prey everyone comes out this safely. Very scary!
   Lisa

3. Samantha Says: 8 Oct 2008

   I am happy to say that Pierre and co are now safely ensconced back in Goma. They managed to take advantage of a short window and drove quickly back to town.

4. lisah Says: 8 Oct 2008

   Thanks for letting us know this Sam. Lisa

5. sherylb Says: 8 Oct 2008

   Man, this just gets worse. It looks like all-out war now. I hope everyone is safe and that MONUC will protect the rangers and their families.

   During last night’s presidential debate between Senators Obama and McCain, Rwanda and Congo were briefly mentioned. We should become very active in lobbying the White House and Congress in the new Administration to put pressure on the Rwandan president to stop supporting Nkunda and to do _something_ useful to help the people of Congo and their wildlife and Virunga.

   (Tom Brokaw was the moderator):

   MR. BROKAW: Senator Obama, let me ask you — see if we can establish tonight the Obama doctrine and the McCain doctrine for the use of United States combat forces in situations where there’s a humanitarian
   crisis but it does not affect our national security.

   Take the Congo, where four-and-a-half million people have died since 1998, or take Rwanda in the earlier and dreadful days, or Somalia. What is the Obama doctrine for use of force that the United States would send when we don’t have national security issues at stake?”

   SEN. OBAMA: Well, we may not always have national security issues at stake, but we have moral issues stake. I mean, if — if — if we could have intervened effectively in the Holocaust, who among us would say
   that we had a moral obligation not to go in? If we could have stopped Rwanda, surely if we had the ability that would be something that we would have to strongly consider and act. So you know, when genocide is
   happening, when ethnic cleansing is happening somewhere around the world, and we stand idly by, that diminishes us. And so I do believe that we have to consider as part of our interest, our national
   interest, in intervening where possible. But understand that there’s a lot of cruelty around the world. We’re not going to be able to be everywhere all the time. That’s why it’s so important for us to be able to work in concert with our allies. Let’s take the example of
   Darfur just for a moment. Right now there is a peacekeeping force that has been set up and we have African Union troops in Darfur to stop a genocide that has killed hundreds of thousands of people. We could be
   providing logistical support, setting up a no-fly zone, at relatively little cost to us, but we can only do it if we can help mobilize the international community and lead. And that’s what I intend to do when I’m president.

   s.

6. Louise de Merode Says: 8 Oct 2008

   Thanks for sharing this Sheryl, I had certainly missed it. Its a first that this region gets a mention at all isn’t it in a debate? There is just a glimmer of hope that the US might get a new president that has some idea of the problems beyond its own borders. Is getting more urgent by the day. We need a change.

7. noseprints Says: 8 Oct 2008

   Very disturbing news. I am praying for the safety of all of the people of this region. I can’t help but think of Rwanda all over again, something has to be done. Thank you for the updates.

8. Emmanuel Says: 9 Oct 2008

   Thanks for the comments. It is indeed a major crisis. That Rumangabo has fallen is a sign that things may have taken a very dangerous turn for the rangers on the ground. We are still trying to evacuate families from Rumangabo, which has proven very difficult because of all the fighting. A ranger’s child was hit earlier today by a bullet, and is in a critical state. We hope to be able to get them out tomorrow morning and get the child to hospital. Pierre will be able to update you on that in the afternoon.

9. gorillacd.org » Blog Archive » Video: Today’s Fighting in Rumangabo Says: 9 Oct 2008

   [...] My Virunga « Rebels have taken Rumangabo military base; Rangers under threat at park station [...]

10. Iris Says: 9 Oct 2008

    I usually am quite articulate, but right now I really can’t find anything better to say than that my thoughts are with all of you. Iris

11. lisah Says: 9 Oct 2008

    Oh, this is awful news about the Ranger’s child. And the fact that Rumangabo may have fallen into the hands of the rebels. Please stay safe and please get that child out of there as quickly as you possibly can. Lisa

12. Gorilla Protection » Rebel attack threatens rangers Says: 9 Oct 2008

    [...] post on the blog at gorillacd.org [...]

13. Christine C. Says: 9 Oct 2008

    I don’t know what to say…this is terrible…my thoughts are with all of you…stay as safe as you can and I hope that the ranger’s child finds the strength to pull through…one more life lost to all this violence is one too many…

14. Theresa Says: 10 Oct 2008

    Terrible news! My thoughts and prayers are with you all. May God keep you safe. I pray the child survives and recovers. This is a very sad time for Virunga.

15. william Says: 10 Oct 2008

    My thoughts are with you all, please stay safe.

16. Christine C. Says: 10 Oct 2008

    Emmanuel, Pierre, Sam, et.al. — Have you ever heard of ShelterBox…sometihng that you should definitely check out given the current situation there. Here is some info, the website, and the contact information:

    ShelterBoxUSA
    8374 Market St. #203
    Lakewood Ranch, FL. 34202
    E-mail us at info@shelterboxusa.org
    Phone: 941-907-6036

    http://www.shelterboxusa.org/AboutAndFAQ.aspx

    What’s in a ShelterBox?

    Each ShelterBox is a large, rugged, green plastic container that holds a 10-person tent and a range of other equipment. In general, typical box contents could include:

    • Thermal blankets and insulated ground sheets
    • Waterproof ponchos and bin bags
    • A multi-fuel stove that can burn anything from diesel to old paint!
    • Cooking pans, utensils, bowls and mugs
    • Collapsible water containers and water purification tablets
    • A basic tool kit – hammer, axe, saw, pliers, hoe head, trenching shovel, rope etc
    • A small, children’s pack containing drawing books, crayons, pens etc.
    However, a range of equipment is kept in stock. This allows ShelterBox to be flexible and adjust the contents of the box according to local conditions and what is most urgently needed.

    We also have sleeping bags that can be used in particularly cold conditions.

    Sometimes – particularly if other resources are available locally and the overwhelming need is for shelter – we will just send tents and pack two in each box.

    Once assembled, boxes will be banded and sealed ready for transit. They are also individually numbered so each box can be tracked and donors can know its final destination.