Report

DRC: cholera cases multiply in Goma's Bulengo camp

Audio 01:24

Bulengo camp near Goma in North Kivu is home to more than 100,000 people. © Paulina Zidi / RFI

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2 min

North Kivu province is facing a major humanitarian crisis. Nearly 800,000 people have been displaced over the past year mainly because of the conflict linked to the M23, a rebellion, supported by the UN in particular by neighboring Rwanda and which has for a year conquered part of the province of North Kivu of which Goma is the capital. In the city the camps are saturated and living conditions are difficult. This is the case of Bulengo, on the axis that connects Saké to Goma and is home to more than 100,000 people. As a result of this situation, cholera cases are multiplying.

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With our special envoy in Goma, Paulina Zidi

In Bulengo camp, Médecins Sans Frontières has set up its cholera treatment centre. Every patient with diarrhea is now considered a suspected case, explains Dr. Alain.

« Over the past two weeks, we have seen more and more cases of diarrhoea. These cases of diarrhoea came from the Bulengo IDP sites. This is where we are now, we are in a treatment centre where, as you can see, there are plenty of patients who receive the infusions to rehydrate them. The fact that cholera causes dehydration of patients, adjunctive treatment, is just to fill up the lost fluids. »

Several tents have been set up next to the health centre. Currently, 175 beds are operational. Not enough. Some beds are shared by several patients. And Joseph, the head of nursing, fears further arrivals given the living conditions in the camp. "It's a disease of dirty hands. So if we don't have all the sanitation facilities at the camp level for the displaced to use, the risk of the disease spreading increases a lot.

»

To cope with this influx of patients, MSF is building and setting up new tents in the heart of Bullengo.

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  • DRC