{"id":63916,"date":"2024-01-25T17:08:11","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T17:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/resilience-women-at-forefront-of-cabo-delgados-reconstruction"},"modified":"2024-01-25T18:07:17","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T18:07:17","slug":"resilience-women-at-forefront-of-cabo-delgados-reconstruction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/photo\/resilience-women-at-forefront-of-cabo-delgados-reconstruction","title":{"rendered":"Resilience: Women at forefront of Cabo Delgado’s reconstruction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>More than two years after Rwanda deployed troops to Mozambique\u2019s province of Cabo Delgado, a gradual return to normalcy is evident as economic activities resumed in towns and villages off the coast of the Indian Ocean where Rwandan and host nation forces jointly operate.<\/p>\n

Their joint operations uprooted Islamic State-linked terrorists that had paralyzed the region. More than 250,000 people displaced by terrorist attacks in regions where the Rwandans operate had returned to their homes, by December 2023. The vast coastal region was ravaged by the Ansar al Sunnah wal Jama\u2019a terrorists who killed more than 4,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands of others, since 2017.<\/p>\n

A trader interacts with a buyer in Palma town. Economic activities have resumed in the coastal town, which had been traumatised by terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n

As a sense of normalcy returns, Cabo Delgado\u2019s women \u2013 who bore the brunt of the IS-linked terrorists\u2019 savagery and still suffer from its consequences \u2013 are persevering despite the setbacks. Among other horrors, many women and girls seized during the terrorists\u2019 raids were turned into sex slaves.<\/p>\n

But even with all the prevailing challenges, the women of Cabo Delgado are trudging on, eager and more than willing to partake in the Province\u2019s socioeconomic development. They exemplify resilience and community spirit, fostering a future of hope and recovery. Their stories echo sentiments of gratitude.<\/p>\n

A vegetable seller in Palma market<\/p>\n

Irene Nhassala Njueka, a village leader in Mocimboa da Praia District, fled her area with hundreds of other people from her community in 2020. She returned home in 2022. \u201cUpon return, we found our houses destroyed, but since then, we have had peace. Those of us who could cut trees did so to make shelter for our children,” Njueka, who heads five localities, said.<\/p>\n

Although fear lingers, the villagers are growing crops near their homes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot go very far where we could harvest more,” Njueka noted. Her community is thankful for what Rwandan and Mozambican forces accomplished.<\/p>\n

At a health center in Quionga, Palma District, Chika Saidi, a mother of twins, expressed gratitude for the return of peace in her village.<\/p>\n

“I was given milk for the kids,” said Saidi.<\/p>\n

“There used to be a lot of destruction all around and we could not get any medical service. But today we are thankful because we can get the services and all the support we need.”<\/p>\n

Although the traumatic events of the past still haunt the community, Cabo Delgado\u2019s women are working together, in groups, to support their families and move on with their lives. Rachel Paulo, a receptionist at Amarula Hotel in Palma and member of a women’s group, is hopeful that their efforts to rebuild their community will bear fruits.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cMy boss and some of us decided to create something that will help local women get an income. We learn to read and write, make kapulanas [a type of a sarong worn primarily in Mozambique], bags, soaps, and lotions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most of the women Paulo works with lost their children, husbands, businesses, and homes. They make bags, shirts, soaps, shampoo and dishwashing soap, for sale. Their brand name, Lilungu, was the name of the place before the insurgency.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been improvements right after we started doing this. We sell our products to economically empower ourselves,\u201d Rachel added.<\/p>\n

Rwandan women soldiers enthusiastically contribute in the reconstruction and transformation of the community. One of them, Capt Violet Mulisa, said they do whatever it takes to help the region\u2019s women, girls, and children recover from the impact of the war.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe meet them during our medical outreach programmes and help them come in contact with doctors and psychologists,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, Rwanda\u2019s Defence and Military Spokesperson, said their main job is to ensure Cabo Delgado is free from insecurity.<\/p>\n

Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, Rwanda Defence Force Spokesperson during an interview in Palma, Cabo Delgado<\/p>\n

He said: “Our primary focus is to create the necessary conditions for NGOs, government and others to perform their specialized roles of dealing with mental issues, and dealing with trauma,” Rwivanga said, adding that women soldiers play a key role in all the operations Rwanda Security Forces jointly conduct with the host nation forces.<\/p>\n

“Our ladies are operational in the medical and operational fields. And we have women commanders deployed everywhere.”<\/p>\n

Captain Violet Mulisa, a Rwandan woman soldier in Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique<\/p>\n

Ines Vasco and her daughter with residents of Mocimboa da Praia town queue for treatment during a medical outreach by Rwandan and Mozambican Security Forces on December 16, 2023.<\/p>\n

Irene Nhassala Njueka, a village leader in Mocimboa da Praia District, speaks to a journalist<\/p>\n

Irene Nhassala Njueka, a village leader poses for a photo with some members of her community in Awasse, in Mocimboa da Praia District<\/p>\n

One of hundreds residents who attended a medical outreach by Rwandan and Mozambican armed forces in Mocimboa da Praia town on December 16, 2023<\/p>\n

Rachel Paulo sorts some of different products that they produce through Lilungu initiative that aims to help women earn money<\/p>\n\r\n