Nine of Congo’s 12 departments have been affected by a series of floods since last October, affecting at least 1.7 million people. Some 350,000 victims require emergency assistance. Faced with the situation, the government and the United Nations developed a rapid response plan estimated at $26 million.
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The United Nations has already mobilized $3.6 million. Chris Mburu, coordinator of the United Nations system, explains what this funding will be used for: “ The response with these resources will focus on four departments: Likouala, Cuvette, Plateaux and Pool, in order to provide support in the most affected areas. Activities will include health, nutrition, education, food security and protection emergency responses. »
According to the UN, at least 27,000 students in flooded areas are no longer in school; 2300 hectares of agricultural land and fruit trees are underwater. Hundreds of women give birth on boats or in flooded operating rooms. From now on, populations fear the appearance of water-borne diseases.
For Chris Mburu, everyone must pitch in to help the victims: “ We call for support from all, including the private sector and solidarity, so that aid arrives quickly in all affected areas “, he said.
Floods are recurrent in Congo, but the current level of destruction is catastrophic, say humanitarian actors who expect the worst in the future, due to climate change.