Meet Mesheck Kyandu. He fled his home in Pweto, Democratic Republic of Congo because of armed violence. During that time, he got separated from the rest of his family. They are still in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is 17 years old and the second of six children in his family.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Tendayi Sengwe
Mesheck arrived in northern Zambia in November 2017 after a two month journey. He eventually settled at Mantapala Refugee Settlement. He has been staying with his foster father, Mpwishe Kabenze.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Tendayi Sengwe
Although he was separated from his family, Mesheck still wanted to know if they are alive and well. With the support of the Zambia Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mesheck was able to restore contact with his family. Here he speaks to his father for the first time since they were separated.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Tendayi Sengwe
After the phone call, Mesheck writes a Red Cross message to his family to explain his plans to stay at Mantapala Refugee Settlement whilst his friends Agnes and Jean-Paul look on. After what he experienced when he fled his village, Mesheck wants to wait for the situation to get better before he goes home.
CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / Tendayi Sengwe
The International Committee of the Red Cross and Zambia Red Cross are working to restore contact and reunify children with their families that have been separated by armed violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo who are based at Kenani Transit Centre and Mantapala Refugee Settlement in northern Zambia
