2023-05-12 01:20:28
With our special correspondent in Bushushu and Nyamukubi, Coralie Pierret
Bukandé returns from the rubble for the fourth consecutive day. He lost his wife and youngest child in the floods: They’re still looking for the bodies, and I’m passing because they haven’t found the two bodies yet. »
This father is destitute. How will he raise his eight children alone now? ” I sent the children to my parents, because I doubt very much where we are “, he says, his eyes darkened and frightened by the heavy rains of Wednesday evening May 10.
The weather conditions did not facilitate the task of the rescuers who lack means, deplores Désiré Yuma Machumu, provincial president of the Red Cross of South Kivu:
« As we are, my teams are looking for three bodies that have already been identified. We think there are still more bodies to search for. Yesterday, we were bothered by a tree, which was on the body of a person: we needed a chainsaw machine that we might not find. So it’s among the difficulties but I think that all week, we will still be here. And if ever the cases decrease, I can announce the end of the search. »
The balance sheet of the authorities reported Wednesday, May 10 of 438 dead, but since then, bodies continue to be buried.
Discontent is rising due to villages still cut off from the world
In the east of the DRC, villages ravaged by the gigantic mudslide are still isolated, a week following the disaster. Roads were cut off due to bridge destruction. Nyamukubi, one of the affected localities is only accessible by boat or on foot. Assistance was therefore slow to arrive and the inhabitants, exhausted, fell into despair.
At the edge of the river, Yseult seeks, among the destroyed houses to recover some planks. Of the market where she was on the day of the tragedy, there is nothing left. ” I see a lot of rain coming. Even my husband, I don’t know where he is. I don’t have much to say because I’m grieving. »
Jacques takes off his cap and stops for a moment in front of the debris, as a tribute to the hundreds, even thousands of disappeared: ” We’re screwed, and that’s why I came home and stormed off. Even for medicines, for care, even mourning, there is nothing. How can you humiliate people? So it’s as if we were animals. »
Below the village, private individuals have embarked on a distribution of food and equipment. On the government side, we have also promised to provide assistance, explains one of the village chiefs Marcelin Bwinto: ” This is minimal compared to the population we have and 6 250 victims on the spot, so this will not be able to solve the problem for everyone. »
An envelope of 1 000 dollars has been planned for 200 households: government financial assistance has not yet been distributed.
South Kivu villagers grumble at government disregard and isolation from rest of country, seven days following floods
►Read also : Floods in the DRC: “We need a humanitarian and government response to the height of the disaster”, alert MSF
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