17-Month Old Baby Raped in Congo

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Above: Furaha Noelle holds her raped baby daughter at the Heal Africa Hospital in Goma, DR Congo.

Merveille Chance, a 17-month-old baby was raped by her uncle in the Walikale territory.

"I was in the church when people brought my daughter and there was blood flowing everywhere." Said Furaha Noelle, Merveille's mother.

Noelle said that she left her daughter with her brother and sisters at home when she went to church. The baby's uncle came and took Merveille. "No one could refuse him to go with the kid because he is her uncle, the young brother of my husband." She said with a disappointed tone.

He brought Merveille in the forest where he raped her and abandoned her there. People who passed by there saw her and one of them recognized the baby.

They brought the baby to the church. "When I saw my baby covered with blood, I was shocked." Noell said.

The baby was taken to the hospital where they stitched the wound. However, the operation was not done well and after one week the stomach of Merveille started to swell.

Merveille is receiving treatment at the Heal Africa hospital in Goma where they take care of all victims of sexual violence for free.

The perpetrator of the rape, Abedi Shekiland, was transferred to a prison in Goma.

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