Over 280,000 people affected by flooding in southeastern DRC

Main street in Kalemie, in Tanganyika province, DRC, March 25, 2016. RFI / Sonia Rolley

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3 min

According to the report released on Thursday, rains from March to May this year killed 16 people.

More than 26,000 homes and 260 schools have been destroyed, along with health centers, in Tanganyika province, says OCHA, the UN's humanitarian coordination office.

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With our special

correspondent

in Kalemie,

Denise Maheho

To date, most of the victims have found refuge with host families, others have been relocated but in precarious conditions.

Madame Faida Kalimurima lived in the Kalumbi district on the banks of the Lukuga river.

His house is completely flooded.

The water level has exceeded three meters in height.

She and her family found refuge in the Trico district, about 5 km from the city center of Kalemie, in an unfinished house, without water or electricity.

“ 

I used to sell second-hand clothes at the market.

There I can no longer go there, it is far away and I cannot afford daily transport.

Here, I lost my capital.

My husband is a mechanic, he has no more customers.

Our life has really changed. 

"

Long-term relocation of neighborhoods

Further on, on the airport road, the Musalala hotel, built on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, was also affected.

The damage is significant, explains Ghislain Musa, the manager.

We have lost 30 meters of beach.

The trees that were here have fallen.

There were also huts next to the lake, they fell, the rooms too.

 "

The impact of flooding goes beyond the issue of lost homes.

Schools and health centers were also destroyed.

Faced with this situation, the provincial government of Tanganyika proposes in the long term to relocate the neighborhoods.

Natasha Mulange, Provincial Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.

These identified places must be equipped with basic infrastructure.

We cannot relocate people and put them in places where there is no water, electricity, health center or school.

 "

In the meantime, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has provided the victims with shelter and food assistance.

Aid that the latter qualify as largely insufficient.

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  • DRC

  • Natural disasters