On the rushing Congo River, a "hell boat" is heading towards its destination, and less than 100 meters of the boat is crowded with 2,000 people, none of them knowing who will come first tomorrow or death.
From a distance, each "hell ship" looks like a moving "slum". In addition to the main ship, on the left and right sides of the hull, there were two barges packed with people. There was not enough fresh water and food on board, no electricity, no toilets, and if you wanted to get on the tuba, you had to climb outside the railing and pray that your arms would last until you were finished.
Living on such a ship is almost like hell, but even if it is so dangerous, there are still a large number of Congolese who choose to take the "hell ship". For no other reason, they are too poor.
Because of the long war, the DRC has become one of the least developed countries announced by the United Nations, with a per capita GDP of only $660. People who live here want to travel long distances, and the cheapest way to get around is by boat.
The Congo River, the second longest river in Africa, flows through the DRC for more than 1,000 kilometers and connects several large cities and ports. As a result of the destruction of roads, the Congo River became the only route for locals to travel from the capital, Kinshasa, to Kisangani in the north. This waterway not only sustains the lives of the people along the river, but also transports goods such as rice, palm oil, and various spices.
In the crowded port of Kinshasa, the "ship of hell" Gb é mani is parked here. Because the owner was unwilling to bribe the oiler, the fuel he bought had not been delivered to his ship a month late.
In this month, the ship has already boarded more than 800 people. They put themselves in every corner of the ship, sleeping even where they would fall off the deck if they turned over.
On the boat, less than 100 meters away, passengers burn fires to cook, set up stalls to do business, and do everything. They either want to go to other cities to find money-making opportunities, or to visit relatives, and for whatever reason, they have to go through a "hell trip" together.
But apparently, the journey has been delayed for too long and shows no signs of beginning. The passengers were restless, and under repeated urging, the owner had no choice but to pay the oil merchant the benefit fee. After getting the fuel, the Gbé Mani set sail.
With the help of everyone, the "hill"-like boat squeezed past other fishing boats docked in the harbor and drove at full speed towards Kisangani.
The ship left, and the people on board came alive. Business-minded people put soap, cakes and other things on the open space for sale, and skilled people find a job as a mechanic on a ship. People of all stripes have found their place, but going to the toilet on board is not easy or even life-threatening, but for them, the lack of fresh water is the biggest threat.
Because of congestion and lack of supplies, such a ship is indeed a "hell ship" for passengers, but for the captain, he also faces a different "hell".
The Congo River is quite complicated, and the captain only has a map from the Belgian colonial period. In addition to this much-needed map, the captain can only rely on his own experience, and if an accident occurs, three-quarters of the people on board will die. For the whole ship, the probability of tomorrow and death coming is the same.
To make matters worse, with every village, more people climb onto the boats. From the port of Kinshasa, the ship was already carrying more than 800 people, and within a few days, it was almost 2,000 people on board.
Fortunately, when passing by the village, villagers along the coast will row canoes to the boat to do business. Although the price is high, passengers can buy fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, and sometimes monkey meat.
Hot climate, dangerous environment, such a "hell ship" has only one doctor on board. Marie studied nursing in school, but her medical skills were good enough on the boat. There is a child on board who has a high fever, and even if the child's mother cannot pay for the medicine, Marie will see the child first. For passengers, Marie is the only "angel".
Further on, the Gbé Mani had to pass through the war zone, and the people on board could only pray that they would not be buried in the Congo River. A month later, the Gbé mani finally reached its finish safely, and it will take the next group of people back to the starting point from the Congo River.
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