DRC: for Lucha and humanitarians, the situation is not "under control"
Thousands of people fled the city of Goma threatened by the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano on May 27, 2021. AP - Moses Sawasawa
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7 mins
The citizen movement La Lucha denounces the chaotic and irresponsible management of the situation in Goma, and contests the words of the President of the DRC Félix Tschisekedi, who considered the situation "
serious but under control
".
Humanitarians, concerned about the precarious situation of the displaced also believe that it may still worsen.
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The Head of State estimated Saturday, May 30, during a press conference that the situation was "
serious but under control
", while the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people was ordered by the authorities last Thursday in cause of the risks associated with the eruption of Nyiragongo.
Ghislain Muhiwa, Lucha activist in Goma, disputes these reassuring remarks.
For him, the mismanagement of the crisis is first at the level of the Volcanological Observatory of Goma (OVG), but also at the level of the authorities.
"We asked people to evacuate the city, but without any support"
60 RD CONGO _Son MATIN La Lucha denounces the management of disaster victims in Goma
The OVG was not able to anticipate or monitor the volcano. And second, in terms of crisis management. When she arrived, people were asked to evacuate the city, but without any support (...). Today, there is still no help (...) There are people who have no shelter, who have no food, who are not taken care of. There is an increase in the price of food. They have no water, and therefore the humanitarian situation is catastrophic, simply because there were no people who could manage. But we are very afraid, because if it continues like this, there will be a lot of people who (...) will have difficulties to survive.
Magali Roudaut, head of mission for Médecins sans frontières, confirms these concerns and details the living conditions of these displaced people in Sake, a few tens of kilometers west of Goma.
The city has indeed seen a massive influx of people and Magali Roudau particularly fears a cholera epidemic.
"We are very worried that a huge cholera outbreak could happen"
61 DR CONGO _His MORNING MSF fears a cholera epidemic
"
Under control
"? No, we still need a lot of assistance to keep it under control, especially when we talk about diseases like cholera. because Goma and Saké are endemic areas in terms of cholera. Before the arrival of all these populations, there were already cases of cholera, but obviously, with the conditions in which people live now. the fact that there is no water, no latrines, obviously we are very worried about a huge outbreak of cholera that could happen. If we talk about Goma, Sake, it is populations that move, and cholera will move with it and could affect a huge area and that is what is very dangerous. This is why we are very concerned and we ask that the sufficient water is supplied.
Head of State Félix Tschisekedi clarified that the threat had not been lifted.
He "
strongly advises against returning to Goma
".
“
The lava is no longer in the crater, but the volcano remains active.
There is an underground lava flow that can arise anytime anywhere in the city
”He explained, while many displaced people are tempted to return to the city because of the precariousness of their situation.
► To read also: DRC: Goma evacuated in the face of disaster risks linked to the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano
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DRC
Felix Tshisekedi
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