DR Congo's Worst Floods in 60 Years Displace Thousands

DR Congo’s Worst Floods in 60 Years Displace Thousands

Thousands Homeless After DR Congo’s Worst Floods in 60 Years

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), torrential rains have caused the Congo River to swell to its highest level in over six decades, forcing around 500,000 people to flee their homes. The catastrophic floods, which struck in late December, have left thousands stranded in makeshift camps, grappling with loss and uncertainty.

At a temporary shelter on the outskirts of the capital Kinshasa, father-of-three Cyprien Seka watches over his baby in a crowded tent. “It’s been almost a month since we left our homes because of the flooding… We are suffering,” he says, reflecting the despair felt by many.

Surging Waters, Lost Possessions

Families like Seka’s lost almost all their belongings in the rush to escape the rising waters. With entire neighborhoods still submerged, approximately 2,400 people find themselves crammed into the grounds of a local Catholic church, where conditions are dire.

“The night here is horrible,” says 55-year-old grandmother Pansel Moto Pamba. “There are many people spread out, crowded… it’s suffocating, you cannot breathe.” Many have no choice but to sleep on the ground due to the lack of space and resources.

A Nationwide Crisis

The disaster has impacted 16 of DR Congo’s 26 provinces, claiming at least 221 lives and damaging tens of thousands of homes. Vulnerable communities now face increased risks of malaria and typhoid, according to the Congolese authorities and medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières.

“The scale of the emergency has underscored the urgent need for improved flood management and response,” says hydrologist Raphaël Tshimanga of the University of Kinshasa. He warns that high levels of deforestation are exacerbating the effects of heavy rains.

Deforestation and Future Risks

DR Congo had the second-highest rate of tree-cover loss globally in 2022, after Brazil, according to Global Forest Watch. The loss of forests diminishes natural barriers that trap rainwater and reduce runoff into rivers, intensifying flood risks.

“What we’ve seen is likely to get worse,” Tshimanga cautions. “We’ve entered a wet period, when we’re likely to see more of these rare events.” The flooding not only threatens the lives of millions in DR Congo but also serves as a stark warning to other regions vulnerable to climate change-induced disasters.

Global Implications

As countries worldwide grapple with the impacts of climate change, the severe flooding in DR Congo highlights the urgent need for sustainable environmental practices and disaster preparedness. Regions across Asia, with their own histories of devastating floods, can draw lessons from this tragedy to bolster their resilience against future natural disasters.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back To Top