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This Is The Testimony of Ange, A Survivor of The Rwandan Genocide

Ange was an 18-year-old survivor of the Rwandan genocide who lost her entire family, including over 30 relatives. She hid in a sewer with a friend but watched helplessly as soldiers shot and killed her friend when she went to get food. The soldiers then raped and beat Ange, stripped her naked, and threw her into a mass grave filled with the bodies of other victims. Though a man later rescued her, he only kept her alive so he could continue raping her. Ange eventually escaped and found help from another man who smuggled her to safety in Congo. Now she struggles with trauma, depression, and suicidal thoughts as she tries to cope with her losses and horrific experiences during the genocide.

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Nani Vellanki
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37 views2 pages

This Is The Testimony of Ange, A Survivor of The Rwandan Genocide

Ange was an 18-year-old survivor of the Rwandan genocide who lost her entire family, including over 30 relatives. She hid in a sewer with a friend but watched helplessly as soldiers shot and killed her friend when she went to get food. The soldiers then raped and beat Ange, stripped her naked, and threw her into a mass grave filled with the bodies of other victims. Though a man later rescued her, he only kept her alive so he could continue raping her. Ange eventually escaped and found help from another man who smuggled her to safety in Congo. Now she struggles with trauma, depression, and suicidal thoughts as she tries to cope with her losses and horrific experiences during the genocide.

Uploaded by

Nani Vellanki
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ThisisthetestimonyofAnge,asurvivoroftheRwandangenocide

My name is Ange. I was eighteen at the time of genocide. I lost my mother, father,
brothersandsistersandover30relatives.

DuringthegenocideIhidwithmyfriend,anothergirl,inanopensewer.Oneday,when
she ran out to get some food the soldiers caught her and shot her. When I saw it
happening,Iscreamed.Iwantednothingmorethentobedead.Ishouted,killmetoo.
Iwantedthesoldierstoshootmeratherthanbekilledbymachete.

Oneofthemheldagunonmyheadbuthedidntshoot.Instead,theyrapedme,beat
me,tookoffallmyclothesandthrew meintoa massgrave.Mybody wascoveredin
the blood of the bodiesinthegrave. Many people were stillalive I saw onewoman
withherlegschoppedoff,stillalive.

A mancamebythegravehesavedme,keptmeinashadeandrapedme.Hegave
me food and water but only so that he could keep on raping me. He said: It doesnt
matter,youaregoingtodieanyway.

Imanagedtoescapewhenthisman wentonhisdailyroutinekillingspree,andmeta
manwhowaskindtome.Healsousedme,afraidthathewouldbefoundwithaTutsi
woman.HesmuggledmeinapetroldrumandtookmeonahiredlorrytotheCongo.

Besides me, of my entire family only one sister survived. She returned to my home
village after genocide and was attacked again by the killers of my family, who feared
that she would denounce them to the authorities. She was in a coma for months. On
regaining consciousness she had lost her ability to hear and she lives with constant
headachesandmentalproblems.

Ihavetriedtocommitsuicidetwicebutfailedtodie.Iliveconstantlyintheshadowof
genocide. Sometimes I imagine meeting my mother on the street. Sometimes I see
peoplewearingsimilarclothestomydeadrelatives.Ifollowthemandtapthemonthe
shoulder. I believe one day I will get a surprise when they return. I have never
recoveredtheirbodiesthatiswhyIthinkthatonedaytheywillcomeback.

Beforegenocide,Iwasagirl.Iusedtodressupwithmymotherandfeelpretty.Iused
to really like myself. Now people tell me I am nice, but I have no feelings about it.
Sometimes I watch women walking around, being happy, and wonder why I cant be
likethat.ThenIdrememberthatIamdifferent.Itmakesmefeelsosad.

Imissmymotherandfamilyalot.Iwakeupandwonderwhokilledthem.SometimesI
sitandcryandcryfornoreason.Irememberthepeoplewhorapedmeandkilledmy
family and friends. I seetheir facesin my dreams. They are always running after me,
and,whenIwakeup,itsasiftheyarestillthere.

Lifewillneverbethesameagainforme.
TodaysReadingoftheTestimoniesmarksthe15th AnniversaryoftheRwandan
genocide,insupportofsurvivorslikeAnge.

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