Assessment of the Kalehe disaster in the DRC: the missing would be many
The disaster that struck the Kalehe region in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on May 4 is still difficult to assess with precision. The authorities have announced an official death toll of 438, more than 5,000 missing and thousands of victims, but according to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC, Bintou Keita, the number of victims would be much higher. Indeed, according to some witnesses, it is difficult to establish an exact assessment because many of the victims did not live in the area and came from distant lands to participate in the weekly market organized by the lake.
Faced with this dramatic situation, the international community was called upon to mobilize to come to the aid of the victims. The reconstruction of the section of National Road 2, completely destroyed by heavy rains, requires broad collaboration and various expertise. The humanitarian coordinator, Bruno Lemarquis, has already allocated $3 million from the Humanitarian Fund in the DRC in assistance to victims for the immediate response. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC, Bintou Keita, meanwhile instructed the engineering services within the Mission to build a temporary bridge over the Luzira River to facilitate the delivery of fuel. humanitarian aid and access to disaster areas.
More broadly, this climatic disaster reminds us of the importance of preventing and managing disaster risks. It is imperative to relocate villages located in areas unsuitable for habitation in order to avoid such tragedies. In these times of general mobilization for other crises and natural disasters, the situation in the DRC deserves greater attention from the international community.