In the sixth part of our interview series, Dr Ione describes the difficulties faced by farmers whose fields had been destroyed and who were threatened on their way to the markets. She explains how people could only cultivate for their own survival, leading the entire agriculture of the northwest to collapse. However, the international community has started to react and to bring help to the most vulnerable people. According to Dr Ione, this intervention is crucial but shouldn’t lead to systematic assistance. The people of Ngaoundaye are only asking for temporary help to stand back up on their feet, and humanitarian assistance should only be a stage towards development assistance.

In the previous episodes, Dr Ione described her engagement in CAR and her life though rebellions and mutinies. In the region of Ngaounday at the border with Chad and Cameroon, she shared the hope of the population and assisted their initiatives to improve their living conditions. She witnessed the quick and promising establishment of community social services and the destruction of twenty five years of hard work by the successive rebellions. She recalled the attacks on Ngoundaye, and how she shared the fears of the inhabitants and had to hide with them in the bush in order to protect he life and her hospital.

Dr Ione is now working for ASSOMESCA (association des oeuvres médicales pour la santé en Centrafrique), driven by the same enthusiasm that brought her to CAR 34 years ago.

Living convictions: Dr Ione describes her incredible experiences in the Central African Republic. A thrilling eye-witness account of the country’s history.