DR Congo – Hundreds Homeless After Floods in Maniema

The United Nations reports that hundreds of people are homeless after storms, heavy rain and floods in Maniema Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

In a report of 11 May, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that severe weather during late April destroyed dozens of homes in the Kailo Territory, leaving more than 750 people homeless.

Parts of the province, including Kailo Territory, had previously been affected by flooding during March 2020 when heavy rain caused levels of the Congo river to increase 5 to 7 metres higher than normal. A total of 2,730 houses were partially or totally destroyed and over 4,000 households in total were affected. Flood water also damaged or contaminated 65 drinking water points.

Also in their report, OCHA says that the flood situation continues to affect communities in the city of Uvira and surrounding areas in South Kivu province.

Flooding in mid-April killed over 40 people. OCHA said that at least 7,220 houses have been destroyed and more than 86,000 people are homeless. There are around 40 accommodation sites open housing almost 37,000 people.

Social MEdia