ICDI staff member Alexandre Pembi checks on what's left after looters ransacked the organization's offices in downtown Bangui on Monday, March 25.

(April 8, 2013 - by Ralph Kurtenbach and Harold Goerzen) Violence following a coup in the Central African Republic (CAR) two weeks ago continues to play havoc with partner Integrated Community Development International (ICDI), said Jim Hocking, the agency's founder and CEO.

"It was a bad weekend," said Hocking in a phone conversation Monday, April 8. "Rebel troops stole some brand-new tires and batteries, and they took some batteries out of the vehicles we have left at our facilities in Berberati (a town 350 miles west of the capital Bangui). They also stole another US$300 in cash."

"Seven people were killed and about 23 people were injured during fighting in Berberati on the weekend," Hocking continued. "But as far as I know, none of our people were shot. All except about 12 of our 65 staff members in Berberati have left town. It's just too dangerous."

CAR's new leader, Michel Djotodia, greets his supporters at a rally in favor of the Séléka rebel alliance in downtown Bangui on March 30 (Reuters photo).

The son of an ICDI staff member was shot in Berberati near the beginning of the conflict and died early Monday, April 1, following unsuccessful surgery for a bullet wound to his stomach. "We don't know the reason for the shooting, whether the victim was involved in fighting, if he tried to stop looters or was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Hocking's son, Jay, the agency's communications director, in an email message.

HCJB Global President Wayne Pederson conveyed words of condolence to the community development organization-a partner since 2007 when engineers helped ICDI establish a shortwave radio station an hour outside the capital. "We mourn with this family that has suffered bitter grief," he said. "Our hearts are with the entire station staff (which) has been traumatized by the nationwide situation."

ICDI also maintains a base camp in Berberati, a 12-hour drive west of Bangui and about 65 miles from the border with Cameroon. In this area, known for its diamond and gold mining, the agency has used the camp for agricultural work, well-drilling and caring for more than 100 orphans.

Rebels have stolen six vehicles from ICDI valued at nearly $150,000 since the March 24 coup that unseated the administration of President François Bozizé. Total material losses in Berberati and Bangui are estimated at $300,000. "Nobody really knows who's in charge in CAR," Hocking continued. "This just adds more doubt that we'll ever get any of our vehicles back, and if we do get them back, who knows what condition they'll be in."

Rebels left few items on the shelves at ICDI's offices in Bangui.

On a positive note, a military officer of CAR's newly installed government ordered three of his men to return the motorcycle they had taken from the facilities in Berberati. The head accountant in Berberati called Hocking at his Indiana home on the weekend to update him, reporting that the incident occurred amid daylong demonstrations on Saturday, April 6.

After three soldiers had taken the cycle from Cyril, an IDCI staff member, a co-worker, Mostapha, called their commanding general who found the men and ordered it returned. "Unfortunately, they didn't return the right motorcycle," Hocking said. "It was older and in worse condition than the one they took, so they're asking the general to return the right one."

Radio Broadcasts to Resume

Despite the latest violence, Hocking said the staff "seems to be feeling a little more secure and moving forward. Things are starting to settle down. And I'm still planning a trip to the country on April 23."

He wants to take in equipment to help put the agency's radio station back on the air. Two ICDI transmitters were untouched by looters, but other broadcasting equipment such as a sound board, computers and microphones are needed to restore the station's signal.

Already besieged by grinding poverty, people in CAR continue to endure hardships as coup leaders now face the challenges of running the country. Séléka (Sango for coalition) fighters invaded Bangui on Sunday, March 24, and the group's leaders are now reining in renegade members of their rebel alliance, according to Hocking, whose evangelical development organization employs more than 100 people in CAR.

Stymied by the recent violence, but with hopes of getting a low-power shortwave radio station back on the air following the coup, Hocking's agency pushes on. A lack of access to medical care and needed medicines contributed to other deaths (unrelated to the fighting) among his staff members' families. The 9-year-old nephew of his son's friend, for example, recently died after he fell ill and couldn't be treated.

Hocking points to the death as "an example of what happens during war. Everything is upside down. Schools are closed nationwide. Normalcy of the country is gone. People are just trying to deal with today." Medicines are also hard to come by at the agency's Bangui clinic, the Mercy Care Center.

Dealing with Death and Illness

Speaking of deaths and illness, Hocking related that "this is probably something that the Africans understand better that we do" in that these harsh realities confront them more frequently. The average life expectancy at birth in CAR is just 46 years, partly because of the scourge of HIV/AIDS, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Local residents get water from new pump installed by HCJB Global machinist Steve Peacock at ICDI's Mercy Care Center in Bangui shortly before the coup in late March.

"We have another very sick staff member who directs our orphan care work, and we can't get medication to him. He's in the hospital on IVs," he said, adding that the man's family cannot tend to his needs or even their own needs for food during these difficult days.

"They can't find medication, and if they can, it's too expensive," Hocking continued. "This is a country without a government. There is a declared president, but nothing is working."

On Easter Sunday, renegade rebels abducted the son of ICDI staff member Jean Baptiste. The following day, as the rebels were distracted, harassing another worker, the boy escaped and later returned home. There are unconfirmed reports that Séléka troops abducted about half a dozen young girls in Berberati who haven't been seen since.

With little or no fuel being trucked in from Cameroon, gas prices have skyrocketed. "The price of gasoline has gone from $10 a gallon to over $20 a gallon," Hocking said.

The top ICDI man, Farel, "has a list of the new government ministers, meaning that the government may resume its administrative functions," he added. "This is crucial to ending the looting and disorder."

Payments Delayed

"We still have (some of) our equipment, supplies and personnel; however, we can't get money into the country or get paid by other organizations that owe us money," Hocking explained. The agency cannot pay its 108 staff members without being paid for the development services, including well-drilling, it provides to communities.

Temporary bank closures have also caused delays in making payments, but Hocking said that "two banks are open now and two or more not yet open but promised to open on Tuesday or Wednesday."

Moving forward amid these challenges, he added that "amazingly, our team is doing well and we have only had four of our workers' homes looted." On a blog post, he thanked ICDI donors and friends for praying as "that has obviously made a huge difference in the stamina and persistent efforts of our national staff."

Curt Bender from the HCJB Global Technology Center in Elkhart, Ind., is coordinating with Hocking to acquire some $9,000 worth of needed equipment for the radio station. Later this month, Hocking, based in Indiana, anticipates that he and the agency's development and operations director, Rich Klopp, based in France, will travel to CAR and take along the needed radio equipment.

"The broadcasts will help calm the people down-step back and take a view of what's going on," Hocking offered. "We'll resume some of our regular programming to bring back some sense of normalcy." Even though he anticipates presenting news, the evangelical station will avoid venturing into political commentary. "Our goal will be to stay as neutral as possible. We'll mainly give information that is positive," he said. "If we get embroiled in politics, they could shut us down."

"We need a lot of prayer support," added Hocking. "These are emotional issues that we are going through. The devil is trying to discourage us and is putting up barriers. Are we willing to climb over those barriers? We're praying, encouraging and trying to be with these people going through very difficult times."

Sources: HCJB Global, ICDI, U.N.