Medicins Sans Frontiers, Democratic Republic of Congo
January 2004
One in four babies born in Eastern Congo will die before they are ten. Nearly 4.5 million people have so far died since the war in began. An area rich in natural resources, the soil is extremely fertile yet thousands of children die each month from malnutrition.
These images looks at the treatment children who arrived at an MSF feeding centre in North Kivu, DRC. Nearly all their mothers had experienced some form of sexual violence at the hands of various militias in their villages. This in turn had led to them being too scared to cultivate land to grow food, or go into the forest to harvest fruit. All had endured the effects of the collapse of the healthcare system; two were widowed; one had a son kidnapped and conscripted to the military; another tragically lost her son to Aids, which has been spread throughout the country by invading military forces.
LA VIE I
La Vie on her first day at the Medicins Sans Frontier Feeding Centre in Kabati, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
1/10
Medicins Sans Frontiers, Democratic Republic of Congo
January 2004
LA VIE II
La Vie on her first day at the Medicins Sans Frontier Feeding Centre in Kabati, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Severely malnourished, she is only six years old and weighs 8.9 Kgs. Her mother has four other children alive, two have already died. La Vie has also tested positive for Malaria. Her target weight is 10 kgs.
2/10
Medicins Sans Frontiers, Democratic Republic of Congo
January 2004
LA VIE III
After four weeks on an intensive feeding program La Vie now weighs 10.1 kgs and will soon be discharged. Even though she has improved and reached her target weight, once she returns home to her village, there is little to prevent her becoming malnourished again, or from re-contracting malaria.
3/10
Medicins Sans Frontiers, Democratic Republic of Congo
January 2004
LA VIE IV
After four weeks on an intensive feeding program La Vie now weighs 10.1 kgs and will soon be discharged. Even though she has improved and reached her target weight, once she returns home to her village, there is little to prevent her becoming malnourished again, or from re-contracting malaria.
4/10
Medicins Sans Frontiers, Democratic Republic of Congo
January 2004
OLIVER I
Olivier is severely malnourished and also has TB. He was admitted with his mother and will undergo a sixth month treatment program for TB. TB is often a cause of malnutrition amongst children.
5/10
Medicins Sans Frontiers, Democratic Republic of Congo
January 2004
OLIVER II
Olivier with his mother during treatment. For many of the children and mothers, this is first time they have ever been able to focus attention on one child. This one to one attention is considered an important part of treatment.
6/10
Medicins Sans Frontiers, Democratic Republic of Congo
January 2004
OLIVER III
After four weeks on treatment for his TB and following an intensive nutritional program.
7/10
Medicins Sans Frontiers, Democratic Republic of Congo
January 2004
GRACE I
Grace was 9 years old and admitted weighing 9.7 kgs. His target weight was set at 11 Kgs. He had walked for three days with his mother to reach the center.
8/10
Medicins Sans Frontiers, Democratic Republic of Congo
January 2004
GRACE II
Grace's mother stands next to his body shortly after he died.
9/10
Medicins Sans Frontiers, Democratic Republic of Congo
January 2004
GRACE III
Grace died shortly after arriving at the center and was buried in a box that had held sunflower oil supplied by the USAID.
10/10
