Elie, a 36-year-old father of four, never imagined he would be forced to flee his home in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving behind his wife and young children. He worked for a Chinese mining company in Uvira, while his family remained in Bukavu. But when the conflict escalated and the armed group M23 took control of the city, his world was torn apart.

With violence closing in from all sides, Elie had no choice but to flee alone, hoping to find safety and a way to reunite with his family later. “I fled on foot, slipping through the neighborhoods under the crackle of bullets,” he recalls. His journey was perilous—navigating through Uvira, Kalimambenge, Kakungwe, Kasenga, and Kavimvira—before finally reaching the Burundian border.

At the border, relief finally came when an AIRD bus transported him to the Gihanga transit center, a haven for newly arrived refugees. Upon arrival, UNHCR and AIRD provided him with a mattress, allowing him to rest after days of exhaustion. He was grateful for the refuge he found.

At Gihanga, AIRD plays a crucial role in managing the community kitchen, ensuring that displaced individuals like Elie receive warm meals despite the overwhelming number of refugees arriving daily. “We only receive one meal a day, but we understand—there are so many of us, and AIRD is doing what it can to help,” Elie says.

Although his future remains uncertain, Elie continues to search for ways to reunite with his family. For now, he finds solace in knowing that humanitarian organizations like AIRD and UNHCR are by his side. “Only they hold my life in their hands,” he reflects, hoping that one day, he will be able to embrace his loved ones again.

AIRD’s commitment to transportation, shelter, and food assistance in crises ensures that refugees like Elie are not left to face hardship alone. Through their efforts, AIRD brings hope and dignity to those forced to flee, helping them take the first step toward rebuilding their lives.