Red Cross of North Kivu province: 18,000 volunteer first aiders to respond to complex humanitarian situations

The Red Cross of the province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrated the international day of this movement by identifying to date 18,000 volunteer first aiders to respond to the complex humanitarian situations in the region. The organization strives to respond to emergency situations by working with different international organizations. If you want to follow the news on the complex situations in the DRC, you can consult links of articles published on their blog, which include the volcanic activity, the DRC-Rwanda tensions, the participation of girls in the school essay, and floods in South Kivu.

“Alert level up for the Nyamulagira volcano in the DRC”

The alert level of the Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo volcanoes, located near the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is maintained at yellow. Although the phenomenology of Nyamulagira crater lava lake activity is declining, the past week has seen a considerable uptick in the scope of this volcano. The earthquakes were concentrated along the large fracture connecting the two active volcanoes. Although there is no indication of an imminent eruption, authorities have been advised to remain alert and prepare contingency plans to ensure the safety of the population in the event of a possible outbreak. The region faces many other challenges, including accusations of invading Rwandan militias, deadly floods, communal tensions, the COVID-19 pandemic and other political and economic challenges.

“Companies and NGOs join forces to build basic infrastructure in the Kongo Central region”

Subcontracting performance contracts for the construction of warehouses, housing and the rehabilitation of roads have been signed between the NGO BMFR and companies and NGOs in the Kongo Central region. This major step marks the vision of the governor of the province to promote trade with Namibia. The forthcoming signature of a contract for commercial exchanges between the province of Kongo Central and Namibia will enable the region to exchange agricultural products for fresh and dried food. These economic advances offer a unique opportunity to the inhabitants of the region.

“Girls’ participation in school essay tests down in Kwilu 1 province in the Democratic Republic of Congo: how to solve this problem?”

This article highlights the low participation of girls in school essay tests in the Kwilu 1 educational province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cultural constraints in rural areas, such as early marriage and preference for sons in households, are involved. To fight against this phenomenon, the chief provincial inspector Jean-Pierre Kasonga recommends the involvement of all actors such as parents, political-administrative authorities, EPST executives and agents and the establishment of a massive awareness. In 2022, only 44.8% of female candidates participated in the essay tests compared to 55.1% of males. The 2023 statistics show a small increase of 6.4% in girls’ participation. It is urgent to put in place concrete actions such as improving infrastructure and setting up scholarships for girls in order to provide better access to education for women.

“Deadly floods in South Kivu in the DRC: more than 400 dead and thousands of victims following torrential rains”

Torrential rains have caused flooding in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving behind more than 400 dead, thousands of victims and numerous material damages. The government and civil society have different assessments as to the number of missing, but the rescue operations continue with teams of soldiers and first aiders arriving on the spot. This disaster highlights the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and the need to invest in risk prevention and management infrastructure.

“Violent attack on the outskirts of Kinshasa: nine dead following an attack by militias”

A militia attack in the village of Yosso near Kinshasa left at least nine people dead. The perpetrators of the attack are believed to be members of the Mobondo community opposing the Yaka in a land dispute. This violence adds to an already deleterious climate in the DRC, where clashes between tribes, acts of armed groups and land disputes are common. Solutions must be found to pacify the country and bring justice to the victims and prevent such attacks from happening again.

“Deadly floods in the DRC: rescuers still in search of hundreds of missing”.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been hit by severe flooding which has killed 401 people according to the local government and left hundreds missing. The international community has set up emergency teams to help the victims, while the search for the missing continues. These floods highlighted the need for a national land use plan to better manage flood risks in the country as well as the need to act on climate change.

The worrying situation in eastern DRC: what solutions are envisaged?

The article relates the critical situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly due to the activities of armed groups such as the M23. To deal with it, the Angolan president proposes the quartering of the combatants and their reintegration into Congolese society, with the support of an Angolan military contingent. However, other conditions must first be met. In addition, mining fraud, floods and the difficult socio-economic situation are major challenges that need to be overcome. SADC and FIB initiatives are welcome, but there is still a lot to be done to improve the situation in this region of the country.

“Tension DR Congo – Rwanda: where is the current situation and what solutions are envisaged?”

This article addresses the ongoing tensions between DR Congo and Rwanda, particularly in the east of the country. Allegations of Rwandan support for the M23 rebels are denied by President Paul Kagame. Political and legislative initiatives have been launched to address the country’s socio-economic and security challenges. The presence of SADC and the FIB to stabilize eastern DRC offers a glimmer of hope for a lasting resolution to the humanitarian crisis in the region.

SADC deploys troops to stabilize eastern DRC against armed groups

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has decided to deploy a force to stabilize the eastern area of ​​the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where armed groups, such as the Rwandan-backed M23, are active. source of growing insecurity. The mandate of this force is offensive and aims to work for the return of peace in the region. The Congolese authorities will have to coordinate actions to ensure an effective intervention and eradicate all armed groups so that peace can be established lastingly. Civilian populations could be collateral victims of military operations.