Momo Republic

Momo Republic is a nice place to have dinner in Rome (Monteverde), one of my favorite .... and it is not expensive, as you could do it for about 10 euros. But I really advise you to make a reservation, otherwise you might end up on the waiting list until 11pm. I really like the garden & design, must be really cool in summer... though I discovered the place to late to enjoy it during summertime. We went there for my farewell dinner (and all were satisfied after they had complained for one week about the location and the style ;).

Lever de Soleil

Cette fois, un lever de soleil. Depuis mi-janvier il fait un temps magnifique à Rome. Comme les jours rallongent, j'ai la chance de voir le lever de soleil sur les "montagnes" le matin quand j'ouvre mes volets. Durant cette période d'incertitudes voir le soleil se lever inlassablement chaque matin m'a rappelé la fidelité de Dieu et sa patience à notre égard. Nous sommes inconstants et infidèles dans nos voies mais "Jésus Christ est le même hier, aujourd'hui, et éternellement." Heb 13,8 et ses promesses sont éternelles. Comme le soleil qui chaque jour, depuis des siècles se lève et se couche sans manquer une seule fois. Vous imaginez ce qui se passerait si le soleil avait soudainement une course aléatoire (et se disait "tiens, aujourd'hui je me repose")???

Et même les jours où l'on ne le distingue pas à cause des nuages ou du brouillard, il est là (avez vous déjà pris l'avion et traversé les couches basses nuageuses pour vous retrouver à voler au-dessus des nuages dans un parfait ciel bleu et ensoleillé?).

ps: oui, oui, je sais que c'est la terre qui tourne sur elle-même...

Coucher de Soleil

- Sunset yesterday night from my terrace -

This tree to me is the symbol of Rome.

Blanket feeding

"A blanket feeding programme can be initiated when there is a severe food crisis or a significant and persistent deterioration in food availability is expected even when nutritional problems have not yet arisen. The precise objective of a blanket feeding programme will determine the target group and the ration.

Target groups might be: vulnerable families, families excluded from a GFD, pregnant and lactating women, under fives and elderly. All members of a specific vulnerable group are included in the blanket feeding programme, regardless of their nutritional status." for a definition of the various type of programmes: http://fex.ennonline.net/11/revised.aspx

- Women and children -

- Aguié, Women queuing for Blanket Feeding Monthly rations -

- The rations are awarded against a monthly voucher and the women get a new voucher for the next month ration -

- Distribution -

- A group of women with their rations -

- The bags -

Portrait - Aissa

Another favorite!
A country of cute little girls.

Portrait - warehouse labour

One of my favorite pics from Niger.
Casual labour in a warehouse with the driver.

Flying in the field

- Maradi airport, departure gate :) -

In Niger and some other countries UNHAS (Humanitarian Air Service) is providing regular flights between the main cities of the country for the humanitarian community. Late October after 2 months in Niamey I finally planned a field visit. I flew from Niamey to Maradi. Then I was supposed to fly from Maradi to Zinder on the next day and then back to Niamey.

- THE plane I waited for 3 days!!! finally -


It never worked as planned... and the return was epic!!!

At 6am the driver picks me up and drives through an empty and sleepy city. I reach Maradi without trouble 2-3 hours later. The pilots are south-african guys I had met at a pool party at their place the very same Saturday...

- Pilot briefing/debriefing after landing and before departure -

I spend the day and the night in Maradi. But because I would like to attend a blanket feeding distribution and that Zinder is only 2h30 away by road, we decide to reach Zinder by car and stop along the way at Aguié for a distribution. We finally arrive in Zinder at 5:30pm, it's a bit late for the driver to drive back but he wants to do it the same. I'm supposed to leave the next day (Saturday) around noon back by air for Niamey. Unfortunately the weather conditions deteriorate so I get to the office but the plane will never come. Sunday there are no usually no flights planned and it is an election day. Movements are restricted. After negotiations, they will do a rotation but the visibility is still too low for the pilots to risk a landing in Zinder... That night I sleep fully dressed under a mosquito net with holes and there is no water at the guesthouse... It's my last week-end in Niger and I missed the opportunity to say goodbye in church :(

- Baggage drop off at the airplane -

Monday... I wake up with a call from the aviation officer asking me to get ready. False alarm. No plane will land this day either. Travelling by road would take 11 hours and it would be difficult to get a security clearance to do so. I am supposed to wait another day. But finally just before the sunset a car with colleagues from Diffa comes to pick me up. The first 1/2h I'm really tense about the idea of driving by night with a guy that has already 6 hours drive without stop on his shoulders. Praise God, we arrive safe in Maradi. I never enjoyed so much a good bed and a clean room!

- Folks along the airstrip watching us -

I'm the only one having a seat booked on the next day flight to Niamey and hope that the plane will land because I don't feel like driving back to Niamey, in addition by the time we know if the plane is cancelled the car for Niamey will be half way.... But they did it!!! The plane lands in Maradi and takes us back to Niamey (however they again refuse to land in Zinder, security first!). So happy to be back home!!!!

- In case something happens... the fire brigade is ready! -