DRC Bishops to survivors of flash floods and landslides: We share in your suffering.

Paul Samasumo - Vatican City.

Flash floods and landslides in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last week killed more than 400 persons in South Kivu’s Kalehe territory.

Floods, landslides amidst fragile security

“It is with great emotion and sadness that we have received the sad news of the disaster due to the torrential rains that have fallen in recent days in the Province of South Kivu, especially in the territory of Kalehe, causing loss of life and significant material damage. This misfortune adds to our sorrow at a time when we are very concerned about the worrying social and security situation in the Provinces of North Kivu and Ituri,” said the Archbishop of Kisangani and President of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), Marcel Utembi Tapa.

Residents in the village of Nyamukubi gather to search for loved ones buried under the mud.

He continued, “In the name of the Archbishops and Bishops members of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) and in my personal capacity, we express our fraternal closeness and solidarity to His Excellency François-Xavier Maroy, the Archbishop of Bukavu, as well as to all the people of God who live in this region. With them, we share the sufferings of all the severely affected people,” said Archbishop Utembi Tapa.

Appeal for humanitarian assistance

The Congolese prelate appealed to the central government and humanitarian organisations for help and the solidarity of all people of goodwill in favour of the survivors of the disaster.

According to reliefweb, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) had rushed an emergency team to the worst-affected areas amidst media reports of people digging through the mud with their bare hands in search of loved ones buried under.

In Bushushu, salvaging a door -what is left of a house.

Communities have lost everything

There are concerns about an outbreak of diseases in the aftermath of floods.

“Poor living and sanitation conditions in the aftermath of floods create a high risk of disease—such as skin infections and diarrheal diseases—especially in this area close to Lake Kivu where cholera is endemic. Shelter, food, and other basic [supplies] are urgently needed for these communities who have lost everything. We are also seeing children who have lost their parents and need protection,” said Ulrich Crepin Namfeibona, emergency coordinator for MSF in South Kivu Province.