War-displaced people in the DRC: precarious living conditions during the rainy season
War-displaced people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) face difficult times during the rainy season. Quartered in several camps near Goma, these displaced people live in shelters in very poor condition. Heavy rains cause flooding, forcing many households to spend the night under the stars.
These thousands of displaced people come from the regions occupied by the M23 armed group, in the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi and Nyiragongo. Their shelters are dilapidated and cannot withstand the bad weather of this rainy period.
“We are very affected by the rain. The tarpaulins have holes and water is seeping everywhere. Some parents and children are forced to sleep under the stars. It’s a very precarious situation,” says a displaced person from the Kanyaruchinya camp.
In the Don Bosco Ngangi camp, a displaced woman also complains of difficult living conditions: “The tarpaulins are torn, water is seeping everywhere. Women and children are the most affected. We need more tarpaulins to protect us. Cases of illness among children and women are increasing. We want to go home.”
According to Justin Bizimana, a member of civil society in Rutshuru, the situation is catastrophic and he calls for the pacification of the areas of origin of these displaced people so that they can return home in complete safety.
Unfortunately, for several days, the displaced have not received assistance from the government, apart from that provided by certain humanitarian organizations and people of good will, and this in a selective manner. Pregnant women, disabled people, the elderly and children are the most favored.
For two years already, many regions of the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi and Nyiragongo have been under occupation by the M23. Children in these regions risk losing several years of education.
Faced with this critical situation, it is urgent that the government and civil society actors commit to finding lasting solutions to allow the return of displaced people to their homes. The reconstruction of areas affected by the war and the establishment of appropriate assistance programs are essential to help these people return to normal lives.
In conclusion, the rainy period aggravates the already difficult situation of those displaced by war in the DRC. It is urgent to provide them with adequate assistance and to work to find lasting solutions to enable them to return to a stable and secure life in their regions of origin.