Disaster in Vitshumbi: more than 250 houses swept away by a violent wind
In the early morning of Wednesday May 10, Vitshumbi was hit by a strong wind that destroyed more than 250 houses, including schools, market sheds and a referral health center. Very few local media reported on this event, but civil society in Vitshumbi sounded the alarm. The secretary of the Federation of Individual Fishermen’s Committees on Lake Edward (FECOPEIL) spoke about the situation: “It’s more than 250 houses swept away by a violent wind, including schools. This is why students now study in the open. Families are making makeshift homes to try to shelter themselves from the rains and other bad weather. With the rainy season in full swing, residents of Vitshumbi are desperate for shelter.
Although the disaster was not extensively covered by the media, the images of houses destroyed by the wind are enough to understand the extent of the damage. The authorities are called upon to intervene quickly to provide assistance to the victims of the disaster, in particular to the students who find themselves studying in the open air. It’s time to take action to prevent such events from happening again.