Excerpts from a 11.5.08 morning field update from Judy Anderson of Heal Africa, to be shared with global colleagues, on the situation in Goma and their medical center which has taken in many war-wounded, and raped women.

Wed, Nov 5 --

Hello all,

We've just talked with Dr. Jo (Lusi) in Goma. Things continue tense with the military standoff. The Congolese prime minister has gone back to Kinshasa. "We hope that the African Union will help mediate talks and arrive at a peaceful solution for all the people, a longterm durable peace" he said, "We hope the Obama spirit will help. We need to remove the spirit of punishment", referring to some of the rhetoric being bandied about. Referring to the election results in the US, he said, "Now America becomes more interesting. A superpower can bring equal rights to those who can "digest" it. America becomes a superpower because it respects the rights of someone like Obama."

The hospital has many women, (some wives of FARDC military and others). They've put women's injuries as the priority patients. They are also preparing proactively for the cholera that follows many people in crowded rooms in Goma. For the story of one such woman who fled the advance of the CNDP a few days ago and landed in the hospital with her six children, check our website and our first podcast from Goma! As you know, HEAL Africa is building a media capacity. It's important that Congolese stories be told by the Congolese.

He said that the rebels are letting food into Goma without trouble. They are putting in alternate government in the towns they control. They just check all vehicles for military. The UN is patrolling the town.

On Tuesday night, in Jo's words, "People's body language is saying that something worse can happen...The language is bad between Kinshasa, Nkunda, and Rwanda. We think it's the last crisis before there is a solution sent by God--or someone who will make them sit down and talk. It is clear that Kabila, Rwanda and the Congolese have completely different agendas."

A planeload of medicine and supplies for the refugees from Samaritan's Purse arrived from Nairobi on Tuesday, and with Jo's help was able to land and get through Goma.

About 50 military wounded came into the HEAL Africa hospital yesterday. What is available at the hospital today is a drop in the bucket compared to what will be needed if there's a further catastrophe. There are medicines available locally for purchase which are appropriate, so your donations will go directly to work in Goma.

Dr. Jo said this morning he'd talked with the pharmacist who's preparing in case of cholera. They need about $20,000. to cover the cost of being ready. The medicines are available locally through an agency.

And another short update from Desiree Zwank seconded from EED to Heal Africa:

"At the moment, noone can really say what is going to happen next, and there has been more fighting between CNDP rebel forces and the FARDC last night. My colleagues at HEAL, who have seen so much in the last two decades, are afraid of what is yet to come. With prices on the market staggering; they can hardly afford to feed their families. Yet their solidarity does not falter: in many households, up to three families who have fled from their local villages are camping out until things get better. Several colleagues have told me that above everything else, they are worried about the traumatic impact that the current situation has on their children, who are scared and can't find sleep at night. Schools remain closed. On top of all this, HEAL's development agents have to look on as the hard work that everybody has invested into the healing and rebuilding of communities in Nord Kivu is once again destroyed."