Torrential rains that hit the Kalehe region in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo last Friday have caused severe flooding and landslides throughout the area, leaving in its wake a trail of death and destruction in the towns of Bushushu and Nyamukubi.
This catastrophe has cost the lives of 400 people and caused hundreds of injuries. In addition, the high number of missing persons adds an additional layer of uncertainty and pain for the families affected, and the lack of exact figures makes it even more difficult to manage the crisis and identify urgent needs. According to data from the health authorities of the most affected areas, the total population of the region exceeds 200,000 people.
The rains have destroyed at least 1,200 homes, leaving more than 2,000 families homeless. There has also been serious damage to community infrastructure, such as health posts, mini-dams, schools, and bridges.
Four days later, the situation remains dire, with the search continuing for victims among the rubble. The massive presence of people displaced from other areas makes it difficult to identify those affected in these first days.
Faced with this emergency, the first response of the Caritas network -both the national Caritas, as well as those of the area and Caritas Internationalis- has been to initiate a multisectoral assessment to identify the most urgent needs of the affected households. The international community has also joined the humanitarian response, providing assistance in the form of food, drinking water, tents and other emergency supplies to meet the immediate needs of the affected population.
#Devastating #floods #Congo #caritas
