I went to the health clinic yesterday to check up on how things were going and to deliver more supplies. I had not been since I took a lot of new equipment on 16th Nov that was purchased with some of the donations I received from you all.

In a bizarre coincidence, this clinic is RIGHT NEXT to the IDP camp that will be set up by the UNHCR for the 4,000 plus Kibumba refugees for whom we are trying to raise the $20,000 for fuel wood. It quite literally could not be any closer. So at least we know that the IDPs have relatively good access to a medical service.

The clinic staff told me they have been very busy already as civilians fleeing the fighting have moved toward Goma. Often, before going to IDP camps, civilians will stay with family members.

This is some of the supplies we have already provided with your donations - blankets, water filters, oil lamps, gynecological scissors etc.

Then I left more stuff - which I get them all to sign for.

This is what I left: oil lamps, chlorine, other cleaning fluids, blankets, laryngoscope, otoscope, oil lamp fuel, soap, brooms, mops, rags, buckets etc.

I saw Josephine on my way out. You can see her daughter’s foot just sticking out behind her! Josephine remember was the first one I met in early October when I decided to launch the appeal for the mattress for the delivery bed. Josephine lives with her husband and 6 children, but because of the fighting family members are staying with them. So now instead of 8 in a small house, they are 18.

I still have money left from your donations, about $800. So when I return from vacation in January I will go back up there and see what they need. I had received more donations originally than I requested, which of course is fantastic - but this is not a bottomless pit so I want to make sure I spend the money on what they really need. So spreading it out over a period of time I think is the best way. For example they will probably need more cleaning supplies etc.

Thank you everyone.

Samantha

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