The Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) His Excellency Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo in a statement has extended solidarity to the Government and the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo after torrential rains, floods, and mudslides hit and destroyed part of the country.
The statement from SADC reads below.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) notes with great sympathy, the loss of lives and destruction of infrastructure and property in eastern Congo’s South Kivu following flooding and landslides brought by torrential rains in one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s recent history.
The villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi in Kalehe territory, South Kivu province, have been worst affected after days of torrential rain triggered landslides and caused rivers to break their banks.
According to updates issued on the 9th of May 2023, the death toll from floods and landslides in the two villages exceeded 400, while more than 300 people were still unaccounted for while a further 205 people were seriously injured and around 3,000 families lost their homes. These numbers continue to increase as response efforts continue to be undertaken by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and other responders on the ground.
SADC stands in solidarity with the SADC Chairperson, His Excellency Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the Government and the people of the Democratic Republic Congo as they deal with the aftermaths of the disaster and recover from the disaster. With the increasing frequency and severity of the impacts of these disasters, including above normal rains induced by the La Nina episode, SADC reiterates its call for joint regional and global efforts to enhance preparedness and response efforts, as well as the building of resilience to enable the region’s economic sectors and communities to cope with, and respond to the impacts of disasters.
