Floods caused by unusually heavy rains in eastern Congo have resulted in hardship for over 470,000 people, according to the World Food Program. The heavy rains, which occurred late last year, led to rivers and lakes overflowing in the South Kivu and Tanganyika provinces. This overflow destroyed crops, blocked roads, and forced villagers to seek refuge in temporary shelters. The World Food Program has attributed these heavy rains to climate change.
One farmer shared his struggles with WFP, mentioning that he is finding it difficult to feed his family of six after losing his crops to the floods. He, along with other families displaced by the inundation, is currently living in a temporary shelter.
The report by WFP highlighted that the flood-affected population is also at risk of diseases due to the lack of clean water sources. Many individuals have no choice but to wash clothes and kitchen utensils in cholera-contaminated water. Additionally, in some areas, farmers are seeking shelter with their cattle, further increasing the risk of disease transmission.
WFP further stated that they are facing resource constraints in responding to the needs of the flood-impacted communities. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Africa has been experiencing extreme weather events recently. In Kenya, heavy rains led to flooding and landslides, resulting in the loss of 257 lives and displacing 55,000 individuals, as per a government announcement.
