South Kivu in the DRC is now the scene of a major natural disaster: heavy rains in recent days have caused rivers to overflow and landslides, engulfing the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi. At least 400 people lost their lives, according to a still provisional report.
In this context of desolation, the dignity of the victims is at the heart of the concerns. Doctor Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize winner and notable from South Kivu, called for the bodies of the deceased to be buried individually and with dignity, rather than in a mass grave. Senator Francine Muyumba for her part stressed the importance of paying tribute to the deceased by organizing funerals and a dignified burial.
Despite calls from civil society, local authorities have for the moment planned a mass grave for the bodies of the victims of this natural disaster. There is no doubt that this choice will not fail to fuel the indignation of Congolese opinion, already tested by the dramatic consequences of these torrential rains.
Beyond this question of dignity, the urgency is also to put in place measures to help those affected by this disaster and prevent new tragedies in the future. Because in the DRC as elsewhere, climate change is making these phenomena more and more frequent and violent, putting the lives of thousands of people at risk.
In this context, it is essential to put in place ambitious public policies to combat the effects of climate change. Projects such as the Nduma Kasha project, which aims to electrify the territory of Walikale, show that solutions are possible. It is also necessary to strengthen solidarity between countries, particularly in Africa, to deal with the consequences of these phenomena.
If the situation today is dramatic, it must be an opportunity to redouble our efforts to protect the populations affected and to fight against climate change as a whole.