The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to face complex and varied challenges. Between the health crisis linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, the violence endured by civilian populations, deadly floods, migration and electoral issues, the country must show resilience.
The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Humanitarian Coordinator, Bruno Lemarquis, has allocated US$3 million from the humanitarian fund to respond to the humanitarian emergency in Kalehe, in the Southern Province -Kivu. This amount should strengthen operations for access to water, hygiene services, health, shelter and household items. They will also have to be used for food security and the protection of the children of the victims. These humanitarian measures also aim for the dignified and secure burial of the bodies, the care of the wounded, protection against the risk of gender-based violence and the reconstitution of lost civil documents.
For a week, the intense rain that has been falling on Kalehe has left a heavy toll of almost 450 dead and considerable human losses. Faced with this situation, the non-governmental organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) came to the aid of the affected populations, by evacuating 41 seriously injured people by boat, to transport them to an appropriate care centre.
Faced with multiple challenges, the DRC is implementing government measures and development projects aimed at stimulating the economy and social development in the country. Recently, the government presented an emergency plan to deal with the corn flour crisis. In addition, 6 credit ratification bills were adopted with a view to strengthening the country’s economic and social development.
There is still a long way to go for the DRC to be able to cope with all the difficulties it is encountering, but these government initiatives as well as the aid of the international community allow us to nourish the hope of an improvement in the situation in the medium and long term