Justus Rinnert, an experienced pilot, left the private sector and decided to join Aviation Without Borders (Aviation Sans Frontières) in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo. He is now flying for ECHO Flight, an humanitarian organization funded by European Commission to transport aid and humanitarian workers in the DRC. Here, he describes to us the suffering of a young Congolese soldier whom he met by chance on the tarmac.

Destination - Basankusu! Jacques and I are flying, Dr. Maxime sitting behind us. With wide open skies and a nice tailwind for the 207. The never-ending broccoli below us, smooth as a green ocean. Once in a while the winding pattern of small pristine rivers, meandering black water, half hidden beneath the massive trees.

Then, from a distance, Basankusu on a lovely quiet river, surrounded by the forest, a lonely church in red brick, a few huts and houses, a gravel airstrip. The last time we landed, the ground-to-air machine gun was pointed at us; this time they seem to trust us more.

After shutting off the engine, friendly greetings and welcomes from the heavily¬ armed Ugandan soldiers. Then, Bemba's, the rebel leader's, Antonov lands and taxies in. The Russian pilot jumps out and lights a cigarette. Out of nowhere a straight line of two dozen boy soldiers appears, in ragged shorts, running in military formation towards the rear exit. They immediately start unloading hundred-pound bags of rice and peas. Ugandans and a few Congolese soldiers with their submachine guns are looking on. Everybody around seems wrapped in heavy sheets of humid heat.