In the wake of deadly floods in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, two babies have been rescued near the shores of Lake Kivu. Despite their parents dying in the disaster, the infants were found alive, floating on the debris of houses washed into the lake. Miraculously, they were rescued after the DR Congo floods and are now under the care of the community. Delphin Birimbi, a community leader in the Kalehe region, expressed amazement and gratitude for the babies’ survival. The community is now seeking assistance to raise them.
The babies were discovered on Monday in different locations, one in Bushushu and another in Nyamukubi – both areas hit the hardest by the DR Congo floods. While the two infants were fortunate to be found alive, more than 400 people lost their lives in the disaster.
Rescue operations are still ongoing, with over 5,255 people still unaccounted for. The aftermath of the floods has also resulted in injuries to 200 individuals, who are currently receiving treatment in local clinics.
The damage caused by the floods is significant, with at least 1,300 homes destroyed, along with schools, health facilities, churches, and water infrastructure. The community now faces the task of rebuilding and recovering from this disaster.
More than 400 People Confirmed Dead After Deadly DR Congo Floods
Intense flooding and landslides wreaked havoc on South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, claiming the lives of at least 411 individuals. The search and rescue operations in the affected Kalehe region are ongoing as authorities try to save the remaining inhabitants and retrieve the bodies of those who lost their lives. The extent of the devastation is tremendous, with some homes, schools, and hospitals destroyed or rendered unstable, while others have vanished altogether.
Ulrich Crepin Namfeibona, the emergency coordinator of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in South Kivu, remarked on the degree of destruction, stating that some areas had homes that are now impossible to identify. Entire villages, along with crops and livestock, were wiped out by the torrential rains, leaving communities in a state of shock. The aftermath of the disaster has resulted in around 5,500 individuals missing, and numerous survivors have been left without shelter.
Bushushu and Nyamukubi villages are among the hardest hit by the calamity, and residents have had to trek great distances on foot to reach nearby villages for refuge. Even motorbikes cannot traverse the severely damaged roads in the region. As such, the situation remains precarious, and immediate aid is necessary to alleviate the suffering of the survivors.