by Francis Kariuki Muigai

01 July 2004

Late one evening in November 2002 for example, Francis was surprised to receive an “MOP” (Movement of Personnel) - duly signed by all his supervisors and the senior team leaders - which instructed him to be ready to leave Kinshasa for Kisangani (a town 3 hours away by plane) at 0900 the following morning as he was to assume responsibility for his section there that same day. Needless to say, Francis barely had time to pack or settle his living arrangements before he found himself on his way to the airport. Standard procedure dictates that a staff member initiate an MOP himself, but in this case, Francis was the last one to know he was scheduled to take over a new duty station in another sector within 12 hours of receiving notification. He is proud of the fact however that he was ready to go and begin his new assignment, on time.

Basically, Francis deals with two aspects of water treatment. The first involves treating water by reverse osmosis, fabricating the water bottles, filling and then packing them for the military contingents and at times, for civilians in the sectors using the most modern equipment available, equipment which at times he is required to service and maintain. Secondly, he oversees the surveying, planning, design and implementation of water and waste-water facilities, including the design and set-up of water reticulation systems, sewer trunks, water towers, septic tanks and soak-away pits.

Francis’ job is not without its inherent dangers, something which he has twice been confronted with. In 2003, when circumstances in the town of Bunia were so serious that the United Nations Security Council enacted “Chapter Seven”, the directive which allows UN peacekeepers to use force not only to defend themselves but between warring factions, Francis was there. At times the fighting was so intense that he and his colleagues sought shelter in a windowless room in order to be out of range of the bullets being fired above their heads! It was a terrifying time, but as Francis is considered an “essential” staff member, evacuation out of the DRC was not an option. Indeed, he was part of the team responsible for ensuring that all necessary preparations regarding sufficient water and sanitation facilities for the incoming military task force which was due to arrive to help protect the people of Bunia. As their own safety was continually under threat, Francis and his colleagues had to be escorted to work by a battalion of Uruguayan peacekeepers. As events progressed from bad to worse, the situation became so serious that the team found itself trapped in the MONUC compound for three days, sleeping on the floor and eating MREs (dehydrated “meals ready to eat”). As uncomfortable as this situation was, by far the worst part of Francis’ experience as a UNV in the DRC occurred during this same time, when he witnessed the horror of “seeing people slaughtering one another like sheep” and “dead bodies all over the place”. He also saw people dying of hunger, women being raped and countless other atrocities.

Over time, the situation improved and the Mission returned to “normal”, but with a difference: getting to work meant travelling by military convoys during daylight hours only, and being back home – which now meant living within a radius of 500m of the sector HQ - before the shooting would start up again in the evenings.

At present, Francis is based in Kindu, a city south of Kisangani, and again, this is a time of great internal strife within the DRC. Again, he has been forced to spend nights sleeping on the floor at HQ and survive on MREs. While other MONUC staff were being evacuated to the airport, Francis knew that he would again be one of the last allowed to leave should the security situation deteriorate further out of control. For Francis this realization comes with a responsibility which he views not as a burden, but as a privilege. The imperative of his presence in the face of calamity and danger clearly reinforces his pride in being a crucial staff member to the operation of the Mission, fueling his determination as a UNV to be part of the solution and not the problem; to improve the welfare and help alleviate the suffering of the Congolese people as best he can within his capacity as a UNV.

Not surprisingly, Francis has willingly put in a lot of long hours in order to ensure, that in the event of another emergency, there will not be a shortage of either running or potable water.

Having successfully embraced the recent challenges of the past few months, and, feeling very fortunate to have been part of a team which has enabled him to develop and refine his skills operating, maintaining, servicing and repairing the most modern water treatment equipment available, are the two major achievements which Francis feels most proud of since coming to the DRC, and he makes it a point to especially appreciate all the opportunities UNV has provided him. To his fellow UNVs, and to others considering a future with United Nations Volunteers, Francis sends the following message: “Never look at your achievement, but at what you have achieved for others who are suffering. Never gauge your work in monetary values, but at moral values. Work hard in whatever circumstances you may find yourself in. Never regret, and always move forwards, never backwards, no matter what the situation.”Francis Kariuki Muigai is in his mid-forties, and is married with three children.