## Degradation of infrastructure: a revelation of social challenges in North Kivu
Last weekend, the Lubero region, located in the province of North Kivu, suffered a hard blow with the collapse of the bridge over the Lenda river. This bridge, measuring approximately 12 meters, represented not only a physical structure but a vital artery for thousands of residents, including farmers and students. According to Macaire Sivikunulwa, head of the Bapere sector, the immediate cause of the failure of this infrastructure is the passage of a large tonnage truck. Which brings us to a key question: how could such a situation occur in a region already marked by deep socio-economic difficulties and a lack of maintenance of infrastructure?
### An underestimated crucial infrastructure
Bridges, particularly in rural areas, are not simple constructions in wood or concrete, but many neuralgic points for the economic and social development of communities. The collapse of the bridge over the Lenda river immediately caused the inability of the peasants to access their fields. This highlights an often overlooked fact: aging infrastructure, when it is not properly maintained, can quickly become obstacles to the local economy.
We can draw a parallel with other developing countries. For example, in Ghana, a World Bank study revealed that regular maintenance of rural infrastructure could increase agricultural performance by 20 to 30%. In Lubero, the absence of such a preventive interview has disastrous consequences. The peasants, already tested by years of precariousness, now find themselves faced with the threat of lost harvests.
### Schools, accomplices of social silence
Lack of access to education is another tragedy arising from the collapse of this bridge. Students, deprived of the possibility of joining their classes, see their future threatened. Studies have shown that accessibility to education is an essential factor for long -term economic development. According to UNICEF, each year of additional education can increase the income of an individual by 10%. The blocking inherent in the current situation creates a spiral of poverty which is difficult to reverse.
It is crucial to send not only the need to reconstruct the bridge, but also to develop a strategy to prevent such situations from reproducing. Governments of developing countries often face dichotomy between infrastructure investments and immediate health, education and security needs. This tension can lead to temporary solutions that ignore the long -term structural needs of the community.
### Security: an obvious human cost
Macaire Sivikunulwa also mentions the sad reality of the death of an individual who tried to cross the river in Gué. This tragic event highlights the human cost of the absence of safe infrastructure. It is not only a problem of access; It is a question of life and death in contexts where basic infrastructures are already inadequate. A report by Human Rights Watch stresses that the reduction of accidents related to poorly maintained bridges could reduce the number of deaths by drowning or traffic accidents in rural areas by 30%.
### Call for action: a reflection on government priorities
The local chief’s appeal, urging the government to intervene quickly, is tinged with an emergency which should be heard at all levels. It should not be a simple cry of despair, but an incentive to reassess how the resources are allocated. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the need for an integrated action plan which favors the development of rural areas is more relevant than ever. A collaborative approach involving local government, communities and NGOs could lead to sustainable and efficient solutions.
The Lenda River Affair is the reflection of a broader reality – that where the absence of adequate infrastructure prevents progress. Often, rural development is approached in a fragmented way, ignoring the essential interconnections between agriculture, education and infrastructure. This calls for a redefinition of priorities and collective mobilization to not only rebuild this bridge, but to transform the way in which we look and invest in the future of rural communities in North Kivu.
If the Lenda River incident teaches us something, it is because the sustainability of infrastructure is at the heart of social development. Responding to this crisis is not solely of the immediate emergency; It is a call to establish a solid foundation for future generations. A bridge should not be only a crossing means; It must be a symbol of connection, prosperity and the future.