• An Indian soldier, serving in the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO), patrols past Congolese women walking to the market centre in Masisi, northwest of Goma, in this Oct. 4, 2013 photo. (Reuters)

Expectations in the Democratic Republic of Congo had been high in the run-up, with Mukwege second favorite behind teenage Pakistani education activist Malala Yusufzai in the betting odds.
“It’s really disappointing,” said Ephrem Bisimwa, the hospital’s public relations manager in Panzi near Bukavu, the chief town in the unstable South Kivu province. Mukwege has set up a hospital and foundation to help the tens of thousands of women raped by local and foreign militiamen, as well as regular soldiers in the army. Every year, the hospital’s main program for victims of sexual violence takes in over 3,500 women and provides them with reconstructive surgery. “We really thought this year we were in a strong position,” said Bisimwa after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the chemical weapons.
Mukwege, currently in the United States, was more upbeat in his message on Twitter following the news. “Thanks to all of you who have supported our work recently. The struggle to end sexual violence in conflict and peacetime continues.” But one woman from Bukavu did not hide her disappointment, resignation and anger at the decision.
“That’s the way of the world, unfortunately. It’s a real disappointment because what the doctor is doing is going unnoticed. The other prizes he has won do not have the same value!” she said. “It’s like he was saving flies. Human lives are perishing here… In Syria the whole world has rallied. And look how France got involved in Mali,” she said.

Source: arabnews.com