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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga

Ranger Beaten By Military Makes Good Recovery With Family

3 Nov 2008 Filed under (Rangers) by Innocent @ 10:32 am

Kalvanda Mafende, the Ranger who was badly beaten by the military last week during the fighting and subsequently spent several days at a health clinic receiving treatment, is now reunited with his wife Mwendo Lea and his 3 children at the Ranger Refugee Camp.

Kalvanda is 26 and has been a Ranger since 1999. He was caught up in the chaos of last week and the military abducted him to force him to carry their effects and equipment. He refused and was beaten up. He managed to get away and made it to Kibati, about 20km north of Goma, where I picked him up on Wednesday. His 4-day ordeal left him exhausted, battered, and dehydrated, as you can see from the photos below.

This was when I arrived at the clinic next to the Ranger Refugee Camp and everyone was eager to get Kalvanda out of the car.

Kalvanda could not walk on his own so we had to help him.

We ended up carrying him to receive treatment.

He was completely dazed and shattered, but relieved to have finally reached safety.

I also picked up this young girl in Kibati with Kalvanda. She is the daughter of a Ranger in Rumangabo and had also walked for 3 days. You can see the injuries to her feet. She is also recovering well.

Thank you for all your donations. You can see we are nearing our target of $88,694. PLEASE CONTINUE TO DONATE. The situation remains very stressful and we need to support all our Rangers and their families.

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7 Responses to “Ranger Beaten By Military Makes Good Recovery With Family”

  1. Linda Linda Says: 3 Nov 2008

    Welcome home to Kalvanda and the rangers daughter. Great to see them safe at last after their horric ordeal.

  2. samantha Samantha Says: 3 Nov 2008

    Yes. Very good news that Kalvanda is recovering. I am now back in Goma working with Emmanuel and the others (got back yesterday). Pierre is stuck in Nairobi as the plane did not take off today to bring him back to Goma. The next plane is Friday.

  3. virginia virginia Says: 3 Nov 2008

    Sam great to see you are back and all the team is starting to get reunited … I hope the missing Rangers can be found soon.

  4. sherylb sherylb Says: 3 Nov 2008

    I’m glad to hear Ranger Kalvanda is recovering and that hte little girl is safe. Glad you’re back safely, Sam.

    s.

  5. jean-claude S (France) jean-claude S (France) Says: 3 Nov 2008

    One needs much courage to do act made by Kalvana: to refuse to wear clothing and the equipment of its kidnappers. My respect is very large for this man to which I address my more sincere congratulations for its behavior and a speedy recovery. Thank you for the rescue of the rangers daugther.Thank you for the rescue for the sister of the guard. What huge work you do? Cheer…. Thanks also for the photographies…

  6. irisk irisk Says: 3 Nov 2008

    Hello Innocent! I’m so very glad that Kalvana is recuperating from his ordeal and reunited with his family, and that the Rumangabo ranger’s daughter is safe. I just read on http://www.news.co.uk and http://www.edition.cnn.com that the UN aid convoy has reached Rutshuru; I hope that all the rangers will now be able to make it to Goma. My thoughts are with you. Keep safe, Iris

  7. Annie Annie Says: 4 Nov 2008

    You guys are all so brave……..I wish the world would wake up and see what’s going on over there!!!!!!!!! Please be safe!

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