Title: “One month after the floods in Kalehe in South Kivu, the affected population is still waiting to be relocated”
In South Kivu, the town of Kalehe is still plagued by the disastrous consequences of the floods that occurred there a month ago. The affected residents have still not been relocated and are seeing their daily lives deteriorate day by day. The search for the bodies buried under the rubble has also been suspended for logistical reasons, leaving many families without answers as to the fate of their loved ones.
The Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, paid a visit to the region but this did not improve the situation of the victims. Indeed, the government has still not provided adequate housing for people who have lost their homes. The affected areas have been declared unsuitable for habitation and will be used as land for replanting trees. In addition, the population is waiting for the reopening of national road number 2 which connects Bukavu to Goma, several sections of this road having been made impassable.
The repair work is progressing very slowly due to the lack of human and material resources. The search has been interrupted but when bodies are discovered, they are buried with the support of the Red Cross teams present in the region. To meet the basic needs of the inhabitants, a few humanitarian organizations are active on the spot, providing in particular drinking water, food, medical and psychological assistance.
These floods were particularly deadly, with 583 people dead and 5,255 missing. Local authorities have suspended searches, leaving families in anguish over the fate of their loved ones. The inhabitants of Kalehe therefore expect an urgent response from the authorities to enable them to rebuild their lives in good conditions and overcome this difficult ordeal.