** Bukavu: tragic fire and persistent insecurity at the heart of social challenges **
The drama that occurred in Bukavu on March 15, 2025, where an eight-year-old girl lost her life in a devastating fire, is part of a series of disasters that strike this commune in the South Kivu province. The flames not only consumed around thirty houses in the commune of Kadutu, but they also revealed the absence of solid urban structures and essential social protections. This tragic event only highlights deeper issues, encompassing governance, town planning, and devastating effects of chronic insecurity.
## Elarged causes and alarming consequences
The first question that emerges after such a drama is that of prevention. Kadutu, marked by anarchic town planning and a degraded electrical network, is vulnerable to this type of disaster. Sinistrality statistics in the region, although aligned with an unstable socio-economic climate, show a tragic correlation: in areas where insecurity and urban structures are neglected, the risk of fires and other disasters increases proportionally. The report of the national disaster prevention committee in 2023 already pointed out that more than 75 % of urban fires in underdeveloped areas were linked to non-compliant electrical installations.
In the case of Samuel Ushindi Miango, we note that an increasing number of families are now exposed to precarious living conditions, seeking refuge in makeshift hangars without real support. Mr. Miango’s poignant testimony on the absence of assistance after the drama underlines a bitter reality: rescue interventions are largely late compared to urgent needs. In this regard, the lack of coordination between local authorities and NGOs has only aggravated the suffering of the victims, leaving them homeless in the middle of the swing showers.
### Insecurity as context
This drama is also part of a much broader context of persistent insecurity since the occupation of Bukavu by AFC/M23. The inhabitants, completely paralyzed by fear and psychosis of war, are forced to adapt to a new normality where violence becomes almost a routine. With a business that appeared to be prospering in the climate of instability, sectors such as trade and economic assailant, as pointed out by Adolphe Kajabika Kaningu, are in free fall. According to the DRC human development index, the South Kivu region is among the most vulnerable, with an unemployment rate estimated at 70 %. This situation aggravates not only living conditions, but also contributes to the creation of a vicious circle where despair and inactivity are omnipresent.
### to a reorientation of public policies
It is crucial that the mayor of Bukavu, in response to this drama, is not satisfied with an ephemeral relationship, but takes concrete and strategic long -term measures. A revision of town planning policies is necessary, in particular by the implementation of strict regulations on informal constructions and the electrical network. In addition, the establishment of social security networks for vulnerable families, based on a model of community assistance, could also reduce the impact of future tragedies.
The authorities, in collaboration with international organizations, must closely examine the training of partnerships that encourage local sustainable development initiatives. Fire safety education programs and awareness -raising workshops on the importance of secure electricity could prevent future incidents while actively involving the community.
### Conclusion: the time of action
While the tears of those who have lost their houses mix with the pouring rain, it is imperative not to lose sight of the lessons learned from this tragedy. The inhabitants of Bukavu, in search of dignity and security, must not be satisfied with promises. Training a collective and proactive response could not only make it possible to avoid future dramas, but also to generate a lasting change for a locality in the grip of multifaceted challenges.
The claim of Kadutu must become a catalyst for initiatives favorable to safety and community resilience, because it is clear that the construction of a better future requires much more than a simple repair of houses. The sustainability of this community now depends on the attention we give to these systemic questions.
** Fatshimetrie.org **, as a committed information platform, will continue to follow these events to ensure that the voices of the victims are heard and that the necessary solutions are implemented.