Fatshimetrie, October 20, 2024 – Tragedy has struck the city of Kinshasa once again, this time in the form of a deadly flood. A child aged only two years old was found dead in the Immo Congo district, in the commune of Kalamu, after torrential rains hit the region. The natural disaster left behind a community in mourning and unanswered questions.
In the tumult of the raging water, the child, named Dieumerci, had been missing for many hours. It was thanks to the mobilization of local volunteers and the Rivière street chief, Gas Besombi, that the child’s body was finally discovered, hidden in a corner of the house. Despite desperate efforts to resuscitate him, it was unfortunately too late. Little Dieumerci had already joined the stars, a cruel victim of the raging elements.
This tragedy is yet another reminder of the vulnerability of the inhabitants of Kinshasa to bad weather. Indeed, this is not the first time that rain has turned into a scourge in the Congolese capital. In November 2019, around forty people lost their lives in similar incidents, caused by floods and landslides caused by torrential rains.
The question is whether these tragic events could have been avoided. Have local and national authorities taken the necessary measures to protect citizens from such natural disasters? Are flood risk prevention and emergency management sufficient priorities?
The answer to these questions may lie in a deeper reflection on urban planning, stormwater management and raising awareness of the potential dangers among the population. It is imperative that the lessons learned from these recurring tragedies are proactively implemented to prevent further lives from being cut down by the wrath of nature.
On this day of mourning for the Kinshasa community, a moving thought is addressed to all the victims of this disaster and their loved ones. May their memory be honored by concrete actions aimed at strengthening the city’s resilience against the whims of the sky. Because the life of each child, each individual, is precious and deserves to be protected against the destructive forces of nature.
This new tragic event must not be simply a news item in the columns of Fatshimetrie, but a call to action for a safer and more resilient future for all the inhabitants of Kinshasa. May the memory of Dieumerci and all the victims serve as motivation to build a future where such tragedies will not happen again.