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DR Congo: Floods - Oct 2019

Statut
Passé
Pays
RD Congo
Types de catastrophes
Inondation

Several regions of [DRC] have been affected by flooding, following intense rain since mid October. The worst hit areas are Zongo and Libenge towns (Sud-Ubangi Province, north-western DRC), where the river Ubangui breached its banks and flood waters have yet to recede.One person died in Zongo and 36,800 people are homeless. In Sud-Ubangi province, media report 14,200 houses damaged, 12 schools, 21 bridges, 48 public buildings and wide areas of crops. (ECHO, 11 Nov 2019)

Floods since October have affected more than 10,000 people in Dungu locality in Haut Uele province in north-east DRC. The flood-affected people are being hosted by other families. Around 600 under 5 children are among those affected by floods, according to the local Red Cross. The floods have destroyed hundreds of farms, raising fears of food shortages. (OCHA, 12 Nov 2019)

Since the end of October, heavy rains caused flooding in Isangi territory, eastern Ituri province, affecting 45 villages and forcing 18,000 people to flee inundated areas. No humanitarian response has been provided yet and those affected are in dire need of shelter, household items, water and healthcare. (OCHA, 19 Nov 2019)

Heavy rainfall affected several parts of the country (particularly the capital Kinshasa) on 25-26 November causing floods and triggering landslides, displacing 400,000 people. According to media reports, as of 28 November, at least 41 people died in Kinshasa City area, most of them because of a landslide. In addition, more than 300 houses have been flooded in Lemba Municipality (Kinshasa District) and the bridge linking the Municipalities of Lemba and Ngaba collapsed. Rescue and emergency teams have been deployed to help the affected people. (ECHO, 28 Nov 2019)

Education authorities in Tshopo province have identified at least 64 schools affected by floods. These school structures are either flooded or have collapsed; textbooks, school equipment and desks are completely lost. As a result, some 12,300 students are deprived of access to education. 10 of the 17 health zones in Tshopo province are affected by floods, affecting over 133,000 people in 131 villages. Many people are being hosted by other families. In the neighbouring provinces of Bas-Uélé and Haut-Uélé, nearly 30,000 people are also affected by floods. On 16 December, the European Union announced the allocation of one million euros to assist people affected by floods and torrential rains across the country. (OCHA, 24 Dec 2019)

In the DRC, government figures in mid-December reported over 923,000 people affected by the floods. These populations are subject to severe deprivations as a result of the disaster. Many have partially or completely lost their homes and property, as well as livelihoods, crops and agricultural land. The displaced population has relocated into homes of other families, public places (schools) or makeshift shelters, some of which are also affected by the floods. (IFRC, 17 Jan 2020)