To His Excellency Joseph Kabila Kabange,
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Palais de la Nation
Avenue de Lemera Kinshasa/Gombe
Excellency Mr. President of the Republic
We, the undersigned, respectfully request rapid rehabilitation of Lemera hospital destroyed on October 6, 1996 when it was used as a launching site of the war that led to President Laurent Désiré Kabila to power. This destruction was carried out by military forces of the ADFL in total defiance of the Geneva Conventions which prohibit attacks on hospitals and medical personnel.
Since then, this completely destroyed hospital, remains totally ignored despite serious concerns about the impact on people who depended on it. For over thirteen years since its unjustifiable barbaric destruction, the populations around Lemera have become prisoners sentenced to die in their own homes.
These people have practically no other hospital to use. The Lemera hospital was the reference general hospital for the rural health zone of Lemera, with all around the zone gravitated 27 centers and health posts, which were also damaged. The destruction of this hospital was extremely tragic and its rehabilitation could help alleviate some of the pain and suffering that victims of this corner of the country have suffered since its destruction.
Mr. President, if you will agree with us that the unjustifiable destruction of this hospital was a big mistake, then why not rehabilitate it? Is it not that the rehabilitation of this hospital would be part of your commitment to promoting justice and respect for human rights?
Please accept, Your Excellency Mr. President, our highest consideration |