Last week, a violent wind and torrential rain hit the Muloku site in Oicha, the capital of the territory located 30 kilometers north of the city of Beni, causing disastrous consequences for many displaced households. Several homes were ravaged, leaving several families homeless in a critical situation.
The picture is most worrying, with many displaced people forced to spend their nights under the stars, in very precarious living conditions. Local civil society is launching an urgent appeal to government authorities and to any person of good will to come to the aid of these vulnerable populations.
According to testimonies collected on site, at least sixty shelters for displaced people were damaged by the bad weather, leaving many households in a situation of extreme distress. With their roofs torn off, these makeshift homes can no longer protect their occupants from the elements.
The president of the civil society of the rural commune of Oicha, Philippe Bonane, expresses his concern about this alarming situation. He deplores the lack of responsiveness and commitment of the authorities to help these disaster-stricken populations and calls for emergency intervention to repair the damage caused by the storm.
In addition to the homes of the displaced, the storm also damaged the primary school and the Muloku Institute in the region, thus compromising the start of the school year that was scheduled for Monday, September 2. This situation highlights the difficult living conditions in which these displaced populations are living, already weakened by conflicts and forced displacement.
It is imperative to mobilize resources and means to help these displaced populations and help them rebuild their shelters, protect themselves from bad weather and find a semblance of normality in their daily lives. Solidarity and mutual aid are more necessary than ever to support these people in distress and offer them a little hope in such dark times.