160 dead after floods ravage DR Congo, 3-day mourning announced

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Dec 2022 11:42

38,000 remain displaced after their homes were destroyed and after streets are left covered with water, making them impassable.

Flooding in DR Congo (BBC)

In the worst floods to take over and demolish Kinshasa, the capital of DR Congo, over 160 have been killed, according to UN estimates on Friday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated, "As of 16 December, the Congolese authorities reported that at least 169 people have died; around 30 were injured and receiving treatment in hospitals across the city and at least 280 houses were destroyed."

The last figure was 120 on Tuesday when the floods began. Devastating rainfall in the Mont-Ngafula and Ngaliema districts left around 38,000 people affected, and, as a result, a national mourning period of three days began on Wednesday.

Kinshasa has seen a huge population influx in recent years and its houses are located on slopes that can easily drift away with floods. On top of that, the capital struggles with inadequate and improper drainage and sewerage.

The country has already been ravaged by violence and rebel group conflicts, especially by the M23. The M23 is one of many armed groups that have turned eastern DRC into one of the most violent regions in Africa. Many are the result of two wars that engulfed the region and killed millions of people before the turn of the century.

The rebels made several feats in recent weeks, winning several key battles against the Congolese army in North Kivu, which increased the amount of ground they had. The OCHA estimates that recent fighting in North Kivu has displaced 188,000 people.