6/12/2025 DRC (International Christian Concern) — On July 25, 2024, a devastating night forever changed Esther’s life in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked her home, looting her shop, setting fire to her house, and brutally murdering her husband and son right before her eyes. The trauma did not end there. Esther was abducted, held captive in the forest, and subjected to repeated sexual violence by commanders of the Islamic State group-backed rebel group. Resistance was impossible; any defiance was met with threats at gunpoint.

But amid this darkness, a glimmer of humanity emerged from an unexpected place. Yusuf, a young rebel forcibly conscripted into the group, secretly clung to his Christian faith. Forced to commit acts that tore at his conscience, the weight of those actions became unbearable. Witnessing Esther’s suffering, he chose compassion over cruelty. Risking everything, he helped her escape.

One day, while on a mission to fetch water, Yusuf quietly told Esther he wanted to help her flee. Together, they journeyed for two hours through dangerous territory until they reached a road. There, Yusuf made a heartbreaking decision. He urged Esther to run alone, fully aware that if he returned without her, the rebels would kill him for betrayal. Unable to live with the guilt of what he had been forced to do — and believing his absence would better protect Esther — Yusuf ended his own life.

Esther escaped to Beni, where she now faces the monumental task of rebuilding her shattered life. With her daughter Sarah, the sole survivor of her family, she lives in desperate poverty. Through the care of International Christian Concern (ICC), Esther received life-saving aid: food, clothing, shelter, and the means to start a small business.

“The clothes ICC gave me didn’t just cover me — they gave me dignity,” Esther said. “Before, I was ashamed to be seen. Now I can face the world again.”

Esther relocated and runs a shop that has become her lifeline. “This shop gave me purpose and hope,” she said. “I have a future again.”

Though the scars of trauma remain deep, Esther looks ahead with cautious optimism. She longs for more emotional support — not just for herself but for many women like her who carry invisible wounds. Her dreams now stretch beyond survival: to grow her business and, one day, help others reclaim their lives.

To read more news stories, visit the ICC Newsroom. For interviews, please email press@persecution.org.