No Visitor Brings Food, A Prisoner Dies Of Malnutrition

JAKARTA - Malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of Congo has worsened the conditions of prisoners in the country. An inmate at Munia's main prison in Congo died in the tragedy.

The death of 18-year-old convict Muno Lembissa is the latest case to be reported by Reuters on Monday, October 12. The director of the Bunia center prison, Camille Nzonzi Mokonyo, confirmed the death of the prisoner was due to malnutrition.

Mokongo said, Lembissa died because she didn't have friends or family to visit her and bring food. “It was not only punishment that tortured him, but also malnutrition that caused his death. People who have no friends or visitors only eat what is available in prison, ”said Mokonyo.

Not only Mokonyo. Lembissa's colleague, another fellow prisoner, David Ilopa also revealed the same thing. Ilopa said Lembissa's death was exacerbated by the prison conditions that were so overcrowded that food shortages were the main problem.

“The punishment really annoyed him. As a result, he started to lose weight, ”said Ilopa.

Another inmate, Detsuvi Elie said, "Worry and hunger hurt him."

It is noted that Munia's main prison was built to accommodate around 250 inmates. However, in reality the Munia prison was able to accommodate more than five times the maximum limit. As a result, the budgeted food could not reach all prisoners.

For prisoners who have close relatives who can deliver food to panjara, they can make a living. Meanwhile, prisoners who do not have a family delivering food will have the same fate as Lembisa.

"It is an undeniable fact that there is a need to put more effort into the management of prisons in our country," said Congolese Minister for Human Rights, Andre Lite.

According to the United Nations, since early 2020, more than 50 prisoners have died due to malnutrition in Bunia's main prison. That is in Bunia alone, not yet in other prisons across the Congo, where the numbers are allegedly quite large.

“Malnutrition is widespread in prisons across Congo. If it weren't for help coming from local aid groups, charities, and churches, most detainees would not be fed at this time, ”said Human Rights Watch, Thomas Fessy.