Solidarity and friendship in the prisons of Cameroon: big party in Garoua, Douala and Maroua for the distribution of mattresses to inmates
March 2, 2011
The living conditions in the prisons of Cameroon, as in many other African countries, are very hard. For years, the Community of Sant'Egidio visits regularly, every week, inmates of prisons in the city of Garoua, Douala and Maroua. The focus on health, the condition of clothing, food, gestures of humanity that the friends of the Community do in these places of sorrow and suffering.
Friendship with the prisoners and care for their condition has allowed to know the problems and intervene in a simple but effective way: this is what has happened in recent days in the prisons of Garoua, Maroua and Douala where, at the presence of numerous civil and religious authorities, were distributed hundreds of mattresses to the inmates.
It was a great party! The detainees expressed their joy with traditional dances and a special song dedicated to the Community. The director of the prison of Garoua in his speech thanked the Community of Sant'Egidio for the efforts to improve the living conditions of prisoners.
A representative of the inmates of Maroua says: "I thank the Community for his presence among us, this gives us confidence and comforts us. Your gesture will go straight to the heart and we are infinitely grateful."
In the central prison in Douala, where many sleep on the floor or outdoors, the joy of the prisoners was enormous. First of all prisoners most in need, especially those in the arm for the sick and in the medical center of the prison, have received new mattress. it was also in this prison, thanks to the efforts of the Community, that five prisoners were released in February.
