### Kinshasa: At the heart of a deluge, the desperate call for government awareness
On April 4 and 5, Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was overwhelmed by an uninterrupted deluge which caused considerable ravages. In a tragic situation marked by the loss of more than thirty lives, unprecedented floods, and material damage estimated at several million dollars, the city seems to be prey to a whirlwind of despair and abandonment. While the authorities are struggling to cope with this repeated disaster, the NGO Justicia Asbl points to the shortcomings of a little reactive government system in the face of predictable situations.
### The gap between reality and government response
The absence of preventive measures and effective intervention was denounced by the president of Justicia Asbl, Master Timothy Mbuya, who mentioned a defaulting crises in a context where the rampant urbanization of Kinshasa multiplies the risk of flooding. Indeed, the drainage infrastructure, already obsolete, are overwhelmed by rains which – because of climate change – tend to become more intense and frequent.
A report of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) stresses that almost 70 % of the Congolese urban population lives under precarious conditions, with insufficient infrastructure to cope with climatic hazards. These statistics make it all the more worrying the gaps in public structures supposed to prevent and manage these disasters.
In this regard, a rapid comparison with other African capitals like Nairobi or Accra reveals a completely different approach. These cities, with their past experiences with floods, have implemented early alert systems and resilient infrastructure, thus reducing the impacts of bad weather through sustainable town planning policies.
### Health risks: an additional challenge
The consequences of these floods do not stop at material damage. Stagnant water, once the rains have stopped, becomes an immediate threat to public health. Cholera epidemics and other water diseases are tragically familiar realities in urban areas in the DRC. In response to this situation, Justicia Asbl urges the government to take urgent measures to assess damage and support disaster victims.
Unfortunately, the absence of public health policies adapted to such a crisis is just as alarming. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns against the fragility of health systems in sub -Saharan Africa, where the responses to crises are often timid or inadequate. For Kinshasa, today, it is a double challenge: managing the emergency while making arrangements to limit the impact of possible epidemics.
### The role of civil society: advocacy and change
The role of NGOs and civil society in times of crisis is crucial, but requires increased legitimacy and power of action. Justicia Asbl, through her call to re -evaluation of government structures, raises a fundamental question: how to mobilize civil society to become a key player in the management of environmental crises in the DRC? Increased involvement of communities could make it possible to account for the reality experienced in the field and encourage greater responsibility for decision -makers.
Local disaster management initiatives, such as risk education for vulnerable populations, distribution of emergency equipment and dialogue with local authorities, show that it is possible to initiate changes even within a system perceived as defaulting. A major issue is then emerging: the need to constitute an effective partnership between the government, NGOs and citizens, capable of implementing sustainable prevention strategies.
### The call for action: psychological and structural
It is no longer enough to wish a faster and effective response from the Congolese government. The claims expressed by Justicia Asbl go beyond the simple observation. They invite collective introspection, to a fundamental change in the way in which the climate crisis and its impacts are apprehended at the national level. This includes a clear commitment to innovative and sustainable public policies that open the way to the resilience of cities in the face of the observed climatic hazards.
It is imperative that Kinshasa’s lessons will be heard beyond the borders of the city, so that a synergy of reflection and action flourish within the whole of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In doing so, the risks represented by phenomena such as floods can be attenuated, both for the population and for the environment, thus raising the social fabric as a whole.
While the sky is finally clearing up after the storm, it is crucial to keep in mind that each drop of water that has jumped from the sky also represents an opportunity to learn, to adapt and, hope, to build a safer and more resilient future for all Congolese. Vigilance must not fade, but be the soil of a concerted action. Kinshasa needs her government, but she also needs to come, because everyone has a role to play in the construction of a lasting tomorrow.