UN rushing aid to flood-stricken areas of north-western DR Congo

United Nations agencies are providing urgent assistance to areas of north-western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after devastating floods, which have destroyed nearly 300 homes and left an estimated 1,500 people homeless.

“The needs are significant, and we must ensure that an appropriate response is swiftly provided,” said Fidéle Sarassoro, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country.

The flooding – which follows last week’s torrential rains in the Basunkusu area in the northern part of Equateur province – has also damaged latrines, causing water contamination, and destroyed fields, striking a blow to people’s livelihoods in an area where 80 per cent of the population depends on agriculture for survival.

“The risk of epidemic diseases is huge,” said Issaka Compaoré, acting Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the DRC.

In addition to medical care to respond to potential waterborne diseases, the affected population urgently needs shelter, household goods, clean water, medicines and food.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has already provided water purification materials, as well as 100 emergency kits with household goods.

WHO and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) have delivered more than 300 kilograms of medical supplies, while UNFPA has further assisted with the provision of four reproductive health kits.

Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has provided 500 blankets and 250 anti-malaria mosquito nets to the homeless.

There are currently an estimated 40,000 people displaced in Equateur province, which was the scene of armed violence since October 2009 that caused at least 200,000 people to flee their homes at the peak of the conflict.