Category: Ecology

The European Commission has announced aid of 200,000 euros for vulnerable families affected by floods and landslides in South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These funds will go to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). About 50,000 people were affected by the torrential rains, which caused more than 400 deaths and destroyed more than 3,000 homes. The funds will help provide water, sanitation and amenities to the 18,000 people directly affected by the floods. Environmental actions must be taken to protect the population from such disasters in the future.

The city of Kalemie, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is facing a water shortage due to the wind that agitates Lake Tanganyika. The company in charge of water distribution, REGIDESO, is unable to capture enough water because of this phenomenon. This shortage affects many areas of the city, endangering the health of residents and promoting the spread of diseases such as cholera. REGIDESO is trying to deal with the situation by organizing sectoral water distribution, but this is not enough. There is an urgent need to take measures to modernize the infrastructure and ensure an adequate supply of drinking water to the population of Kalemie.

The province of Kasai Central in the Democratic Republic of Congo could sign a memorandum of understanding with Suez, a French company specializing in water treatment, for access to drinking water. This collaboration represents an important step in the field of access to water in the DRC since drinking water is essential for health, hygiene and food security.

The DRC must put in place a regulatory framework and incentive measures to finance and develop the carbon market. Rawbank is heavily involved in the certification of carbon credits and encourages authorities to create a framework that meets international standards. DRC’s forests offer an opportunity to create economic value through carbon sequestration. To develop the market in an equitable way, it is essential to involve all the actors concerned. The Economic Climate Forum is an encouraging first step in this direction. The DRC can take advantage of this market to fight against climate change.

France has granted aid of 500,000 euros to the NGO Action contre la Faim to support refugees and host communities in Uganda. This financial assistance will make it possible to set up a one-year project that will focus on the nutrition and food security of 2,000 households living in the refugee camps of Nakivale and Kyangwali. The project aims to guarantee sustainable food security and the autonomy of vulnerable households. This initiative is part of France’s international strategy for food security, emphasizing the importance of combining humanitarian aid and development.

An article announces the measles vaccination campaign in Nyangezi health zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which aims to cover 12 health areas in 4 groupements. The zone head doctor calls on parents to sensitize the community to have their children vaccinated, stressing the importance of the ascending vaccination curve which has already prevented deaths from measles. A vaccination campaign against poliomyelitis will also be launched in a few days. Vaccination is essential to contain the spread of the disease and prevent new epidemic waves that can seriously affect children.

Fortescue is launching a new initiative in Inga, Democratic Republic of Congo, to fight malaria and river blindness. In collaboration with the Congolese authorities, the program includes indoor and outdoor spraying, the use of larvicides and a supervised spraying campaign. Fortescue aims to reduce river blindness and the prevalence of malaria, while promoting the green economy and improving social and economic outcomes. The company also wishes to develop the Green Industries Project in the DRC, in particular the Inga hydroelectric site. This initiative demonstrates Fortescue’s commitment to sustainable development and the well-being of local communities.

The province of Kasai encounters major environmental problems related to the management of rainwater and domestic effluents. An MLA has proposed an edict to correct these problems and allow the province to comply with legislative obligations for environmental management. This measure is eagerly awaited and will also make it possible to make the population aware of the need to preserve the environment. Collaboration and compliance with the mechanisms will be necessary to ensure the success of this initiative.

On May 4, floods hit the villages of Nyamukubi and Bushushu, killing more than 500 people and displacing 5,000 others. A government-parliament delegation has arrived in Goma to provide assistance to the affected populations and speed up the reopening of blocked roads. More than 9000 children are deprived of education in the affected villages. These floods, frequent in the DRC, are aggravated by factors such as deforestation and the lack of effective drainage and evacuation infrastructure. The government reacted quickly, but durable solutions are needed to prevent such events in the future.