Irengue Trezor has one of the most difficult jobs imaginable. As a psychologist with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the war-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), she spends her days helping women recover from the trauma of brutal sexual violence. In a region where rape has become a devastating weapon of war, Trezor and her dedicated colleagues provide a lifeline to survivors struggling to heal and rebuild.
An Epidemic of Sexual Violence
The numbers are staggering. Last year alone, MSF treated over 25,000 victims of sexual violence in the DRC, the vast majority in the sprawling displacement camps around the city of Goma. This year, that tragic record was shattered in just six months. Every day, exhausted women who have fled the fighting arrive at the camps, many having endured unspeakable sexual violence at the hands of armed groups.
To be unaffected is not really possible when you are listening to traumatic experiences in repetition.
Irengue Trezor, MSF Psychologist
Helping Survivors Heal
For the women who make it to MSF’s sexual violence clinics, the path to recovery is long and difficult. Post-traumatic stress is nearly universal. Trezor and her team work tirelessly to provide the psychological support survivors need to process their pain and begin to move forward. But with the camps under constant threat and many women attacked again and again, progress can feel maddeningly fragile.
- MSF operates four sexual violence clinics in the Goma camps
- A team of 30 nurses and 20 counselors helps survivors heal
- Demand far outstrips capacity, with up to 119 cases per day
Resilience in the Face of Horror
Yet amidst the misery, Trezor finds inspiration in the astonishing resilience of the women she serves. Survivors who have found the strength to heal often reach out to help others still reeling from attacks. Sharing experiences, they have learned, is vital to recovery. It is these moments of connection and support that keep Trezor going, even on the darkest of days.
Those who have developed resilience attempt to change the experiences of those whose emotions are still very fresh.
Irengue Trezor, MSF Psychologist
A Crisis with No End in Sight
Tragically, there is no end in sight to the sexual violence crisis engulfing eastern DRC. As the conflict grinds on, more and more women are subjected to the horror of rape as a weapon of war. For Trezor and her colleagues at MSF, the battle to help these survivors heal has become a defining struggle – one that demands global attention and support.
In the face of such overwhelming need, it would be easy to despair. But Trezor and the courageous women she serves refuse to give up hope. Day after difficult day, they continue the vital work of recovery, healing, and empowerment. Their resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma is a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit – and a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to stand with the survivors of sexual violence, in DRC and around the world.
