In January 2002, a volcanic eruption brought death and destruction to the people of Goma, Rwanda. The eruption was 35 km away from the city of Goma, but the thick hot lava carried on flowing, burning and destroying everything in its path.

Khalsa Aid (K.A.) launched an appeal to the Sangat to help the people of Goma by initially providing them with water purification tablets and essential medical supplies. This was the first such relief trip to Africa and it was made even more difficult by the on going armed conflict in the region.

The only way into Congo was through Rwanda and KA managed to establish a contact in the country through a very generous Sikh family from west London. After purchasing the medical supplies, the KA team (Amrik Singh and Ravinder Singh) flew to Rwanda via Nairobi.

After a long journey and a plenty of questioning at the Kigali airport, the team wasted no time in hiring a driver for the journey to Congo the following day. The team decided to register with the British Embassy in Rwanda so that in case of emergency the British government were aware of their movements. The team was greeted in a very respectful and cheerful manner by the embassy staff. The KA team was the only ones ever let into the building with Kirpans. Nobody, except the security staff, had any right to carry arms into the building.

The drive to Congo was through a very green and lush Rwanda. There were several searches of the car en route but they carried out by very professional military personal. The team reached the Rwandan/Congo border after 6pm by which time the African darkness had fallen and the border was closed. It was a very dangerous time being stuck in the middle of no mans land. It was pitch black but suddenly the Rwandan side let the team through but they were unfortunately met by a group of thugs on the Congolese side.

The team was forced to drive to a hotel/restaurant by these thugs where they were forced to sit next to their chief and made to hand over their passports. After some time the team decided to make a move (without their passports) and to get away from these criminals as soon as possible. It was a struggle to get into the car but by then they knew there was a substantial amount of medical equipment in the car. On the way to the designated hotel the team were followed by a mysterious car and were forced to stop and told to drive towards another direction. It was midnight by now and after first being forced to stop the team knew they were in trouble.

When the car was forced the second time to stop the team decided to put up a fight if they were forced out of the car. Ravinder Singh asked Amrik Singh to read Chaupai Sahib Paath very loud and shook hands to say their final Fateh to each other. Something distracted the two thugs and the team drove off into the darkness not knowing where they were going. After some time and a wheel puncture later they reached their hotel, thanks to the help from a Morrocan aid worker.

At the hotel the team were very fortunate to meet a Muslim gentleman who, after hearing the story of the treatment of the team in Congo so far, assured the team that they were now safe and under his protection as long as they were in Congo. The next morning there was a stranger waiting for the team with the passports that were forcefully taken the night before. We were joined for breakfast by our kind new friend who apologized again for our treatment. He had Sikh friends in South Africa who passed away leaving their three young children in his care. He had raised all three children in the Sikh way of life. He was the miracle that Waheguru sent to make the teams program so much easier in a very hostile environment.

After delivering the medical supplies to the appropriate clinics the team decided to see if they could offer any assistance to the local hospital. The hospital was over flowing with patients. The maternity ward had about five women to a bed and further 3 or 4 sitting on the floor next to each bed. The fluorescent lights in three wards were not working and the hospital was very short of pillows, surgical gloves, Wellington boots and other equipment.

The team drove back to Kigali (250 km) to purchase the equipment, as there was nothing available locally. It was very difficult but KA managed to supply the hospital with the basics they urgently required.