Various African regions have been experiencing heavy rainfall, causing floods whose damage has been hitting records. The recent case is from DRC, where areas around Lake Kivu have flooded, taking over 400 lives after cases of landslides. Kivu’s water levels are rising, as recorded on its Ugandan and Rwandan shores.
Moreover, surrounding river banks are broken, contributing to the high death toll in the war-devastated nation. This was mainly observed in Kalehe, the South province of Kivu, with the villages of Nyamukubi and Bushushu affected.
The tropical nation faces double tragedies, with climate calamities having a significant share of their woes. For instance, illegal mines, searching for minerals like Cobalt and gold, are increasingly destroying the land. Such depravities increase the chances of flood tragedies during heavy rainfall.
By war and climate issues, people unable to leave endangered zones are consistently suffering. Gentille Ndagijimana is one of the affected, losing 6 close relatives from the floods in Nyamukubi. The saddest part is that she and her family sought refuge in the region after the conflict between the rebels and army forces in January.
Thomas Bakenga, an administrator of the Kalehe territory, states that the recovery process has been going on since Thursday. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) also stated that an emergency team was dispatched to the location on Saturday.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that, “this is another illustration of accelerating climate change and its disastrous impact on countries that have done nothing to contribute to global warming.”
The country’s readiness to deal with such calamities is wanting. Riddled by war and corruption, it might continue struggling to catch up on the African climate agenda. Eastern DRC needs a sensitive check, prone to conflict, which is also arising from mining conflicts.
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