Fatshimetrie, October 26, 2024 – The health situation at the Kigonze high school displaced persons site in Bunia, Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is worrying. Indeed, more than half of the site’s toilets are currently clogged, exposing residents to serious risks of infections and diseases. Of the 683 existing toilets, 347 are out of order, 58 are completely destroyed and only 336 are usable.
The president of the displaced persons site, Désiré Mbapi Grunya, is sounding the alarm on this critical situation. The consequences are already visible, with several diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections in women, respiratory diseases, the transmission of intestinal parasites and typhoid fever spreading among residents. The young displaced people who are responsible for emptying the toilets do so without protective equipment, thus putting their health at risk.
Faced with this emergency, Désiré Mbapi Grunya calls on the Government of the Republic and technical and financial partners to build new hygienic toilets. The need is crucial to contain the spread of diseases and ensure dignified living conditions for the 14,133 people, including 9,547 children, who currently reside on the Kigonze high school site.
It is imperative to take rapid and effective measures to remedy this disastrous situation and guarantee the health and well-being of the residents of the displaced persons site. It is everyone’s responsibility to act quickly to avoid a deterioration of the situation and prevent possible epidemics.