Some neighborhoods of Kinshasa remain submerged due to the exceptional flooding of the Congo River. In addition, the recent rainfall in the Congolese capital has only worsened the situation, affecting both upscale residential areas and working-class neighborhoods.
2 mins
with our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
The needs are considerable, and among the organizations present, Médecins Sans Frontières is actively mobilizing. The MSF team is deployed in the commune of Limeté, more precisely in the Kingabwa area, one of the sites hosting more than 200 households affected by the floods. Vital facilities, including latrines, shelters and lighting, were quickly put in place. However, these efforts are considered insufficient given the scale of the needs.
Read alsoDRC: residents of Congo still impacted by floods, five days after the start of its decline
From the balcony of his house in Kingabwa, the fishermen’s district, Koffi observes the devastation caused by the rising waters of the river. He is delighted to have erected his residence on a height. “ The Grand monde district was created in 1974. We have never experienced this kind of situation. This is a natural disaster situation. We have experienced flooding, but it has never reached this level “.
Koffi’s house is located at the entrance to the prestigious concession called Cité du Fleuve. Access to these luxurious villas is via canoes. Here, vehicles are submerged by water, and some residents have abandoned the neighborhood.
A few kilometers to the west, in the commune of Barumbu, the situation is much worse. Uncontrolled urbanization has worsened flooding. Several avenues are underwater, including Isoke, where Sephora lives. “ Many residents have deserted our avenue. Look over there, a lot of people have moved. Every day, residents leave this area. Our daily life boils down to fighting against floods caused by river water “.
Sephora hopes for rapid intervention from the authorities. “ There is already a significant proliferation of mosquitoes, malaria threatens us. Almost everyone gets sick from these smells. The waters of the river mix with those of the sewers and gutters, generating unbearable odors. Some of us already suffer from stomach aches. The situation is critical “.
The WHO supports the authorities in rapid damage assessments, in particular to prevent the emergence of epidemics.