PHOTO STORY: A patient journey in Bangui, Central African Republic, amid post-electoral violence
“People are filled with worry. Fear is winning people over I wish that those fighting stop, so that the country can be quiet. What we've been through, I want it to stop. Otherwise, our children will go through the same thing. And the country will go wrong,” said Beldo.
Since December 2020, the security and humanitarian situation has deteriorated rapidly in the Central African Republic (CAR). This is as a result of clashes linked to the electoral process that escalated between a newly formed coalition of armed groups, called Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement (CPC), and government forces supported by UN military personnel and foreign troops.
The joint presidential and legislative elections took place on 27 December 2020 amid renewed fighting in large parts of the country. After numerous offensives across the country, fighting also took place on the outskirts of the capital, Bangui, on 13 January 2021.
Since mid-December 2020, over 250 war-wounded have been treated by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams in the capital and in the provinces.
France Beldo, 31, is one of them. While at home in Damala neighbourhood, she was injured by a stray bullet on 13 January 2021 during the attack on the outskirts of Bangui. The bullet hit her hand, chest and shoulder, luckily without damaging any important organ.
She was brought to our SICA Hospital for surgical care. Since 2017, our teams have been taking care of trauma emergencies in this facility.
"I was wondering if I would survive or not. It is only when I arrived here that the doctors told me: it is going to be fine. I can see now their work made me heal," said Beldo.
In the wards, road traffic accident victims, who represent the majority of the patients admitted, are alongside war wounded, and gunshot or knife victims. Discharged from hospital on 25 January 2021, France comes back regularly to MSF’s SICA Hospital for outpatient consultations, dressing care and physiotherapy sessions. She still has a bullet lodged in her left shoulder.
“People are filled with worry. Fear is winning people over I wish that those fighting stop, so that the country can be quiet. What we've been through, I want it to stop. Otherwise, our children will go through the same thing. And the country will go wrong,” said Beldo.
After several updates on the overall worsening situation in CAR and MSF response and other specific comms, we wanted to provide you with a visual and person-centred story to keep shedding light on the dramatic human impact of the current escalation of violence. In a country already hard-hit by eight years of civil war and where people face a chronic health crisis, the current insecurity is further exacerbating their vulnerability. On 18 January 2021, the Constitutional Court confirmed re-election of Faustin Ange Touadera as CAR president. The situation remains particularly tense and unpredictable as of today.
France waits for a medical examination on 22 January 2021 in the MSF’s SICA Hospital.
France Beldo, 31, was wounded on 13 January 2021 attack in the outskirts of Bangui, Central African Republic.
“When I can stand up normally, when the swelling is reduced, and when I am no longer in pain, I will be able to resume my activities," she says. She used to sell food in her neighbourhood market. Photographer: Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF
MSF medical staff do wound dressing around France's injured hand after her wound was stitched on 19 January 2021, at MSF's SICA Hospital.
France Beldo, 31, was wounded on 13 January 2021 during the clash between rebel groups and the national forces supported by their international allies, on the outskirts of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. While at home in Damala neighbourhood, close to the fighting, a stray bullet hit her hand, chest and shoulder, without damaging an important organ.
"I was wondering if I would survive or not. It is only when I arrived here that the doctors told me: it is going to be fine," she recalls. "I can see their work that made me heal." Photographer: Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF
France and an MSF nurse joke as she sits in MSF’s SICA hospital where she has been staying for a week, on 21 January 2021. France Beldo, 31, was wounded on 13 January 2021 attack in the outskirts of Bangui, Central African Republic.
"Since the moment I arrived at the hospital, I felt welcomed and well taken care of” she says. Photographer: Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF
France heads to her first meeting with the kinesitherapists on January 25th, 2021, in the Sica Hospital.
France Beldo, 31-years-old, was wounded on January 13th attack at the PK12 of Bangui, the Central African Republic.
While waiting, she asked an other wounded what it was for. The men, who had been amputated, explained in his own words what doctors had said : "it is to practice your muscles so they don't get too tight when the scarification happens." Photographer: Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF
In the morning, finishing up a cup of coffee, France prepares herself to go to MSF’SICA hospital for medical follow-up, on 2nd of February 2021, at her home in Bangui, Central African Republic.
France Beldo, 31, was wounded on 13 January 2021 during the clash between rebel groups and the national forces supported by their international allies, on the outskirts of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. While at home in Damala neighbourhood, close to the fighting, a stray bullet hit her hand, chest and shoulder, without damaging an important organ. Photographer:Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF
France is brought to the recovery room after a surgical procedure to get her wound stitched on 19 January 2021, at MSF's SICA Hospital.
France Beldo, 31, was wounded on 13 January 2021 during the clash between rebel groups and the national forces supported by their international allies, on the outskirts of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. While at home in Damala neighbourhood, close to the fighting , a stray bullet hit her hand, chest and shoulder, without damaging an important organ.
"I was wondering if I would survive or not. It is only when I arrived here that the doctors told me: it is going to be fine," she recalls. "I can see their work that made me heal." Photographer: Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF
France takes a moment to rest, leaning against a wall in the MSF’s SICA Hospital, after a medical consultation to change wound dressing on 2nd of February 2021, in Bangui, Central African Republic.
France Beldo, 31, was wounded by a stray bullet on 13 January 2021 attack in the outskirts of Bangui, Central African Republic.
She completed her inpatient treatment and went back home but still needs outpatient care. She feels tired. Her left leg has been hurting for a few days now and she can barely walk. A bullet is still lodged in her left shoulder. Photographer: Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF
Claire, France's sister, helps her dress up in front of her house, for her first external consultation at the MSF’s SICA hospital, on 25 January 2021. She completed her inpatient treatment and left the hospital the day before.
France Beldo, 31, was wounded on 13 January 2021 when rebel armed groups attacked the outskirts of Bangui, Central African Republic. Photographer: Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF
PK12 neighborhood came under attack by the rebel forces on 13 January 2021, in Bangui, Central African Republic.
It is that day that France was wounded by a stray bullet while staying at home in Damala neighbourhood, right next to PK12. Photographer: Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF
One of France's two wounds has healed and does not require dressing anymore. She is at the MSF’s SICA Hospital in Bangui on 2nd February 2021. France Beldo, 31, was wounded by a stray bullet on 13 January 2021 attack in the outskirts of Bangui, Central African Republic. Photographer: Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF