Message of condolences and compassion from Dr. Denis Mukwege to the families of the victims of the floods and to the population of Kalehe territory

My dear compatriots,
Dear brothers and sisters,

It is with great sorrow that I learned the sad news of the natural and human disaster caused by the floods in the territory of Kelehe following the torrential rains that have been falling on the region for several days. The toll is heavy — more than 170 dead, hundreds of missing, and hundreds of injured and homeless. Agricultural lands as well as infrastructures essential to the local economy have been destroyed by the landslides.

In the face of this terrible tragedy, I offer my condolences to the families who have suffered so much. I express my sympathy to the direct victims and to all the populations of the Kalehe territory. 

Secondly, I congratulate the provincial authorities for having taken the measure of the tragedy. I encourage them to quickly make good on their promises, notably to take charge of funeral expenses, to support the care of the injured in hospitals, to mobilize urgent aid in food and other essential products, to relocate the inhabitants of dangerous sites, and to contribute to their decent relocation, to classify certain sites as unfit for construction in order to avoid new tragedies in the future, to urgently rehabilitate the Bukavu-Goma and Bukavu-Hombo roads in order to facilitate the movement of people and goods, and to mobilize the central government in Kinshasa so that it quickly assumes its responsibilities in this tragedy.

Finally, in consultation with the health authorities, certain administrative and customary authorities and certain religious leaders of our province, we have dispatched a team of surgeons and anaesthetists and technicians from the hospital and the Panzi Foundation in order to provide the population with emergency medical aid consisting of kits of essential medicines. 

I wish for a prompt recovery of the wounded and an end to these catastrophes that are hitting the Kalehe territory. I have faith in the ability of our people to overcome the painful consequences caused by these devastating floods.

May God protect the people of Kalehe territory.

Dr. Denis Mukwege

Contenido relacionado

The Panzi Foundation supports displaced populations in the Uvira region

On Tuesday August 29, in Uvira, the Panzi Foundation launched an operation to distribute food and dignity kits to 1,241 households who had fled armed groups operating in the Mwenga and Fizi highlands. This effort complements Panzi’s efforts in July, which provided assistance to over 5,000 refugee families in camps in Goma and Beni territory. […]

La Fondation Panzi soutient les populations déplacées de la région d’Uvira

Mardi 29 août, à Uvira, la Fondation Panzi a lancé une opération de distribution de kits alimentaires et de kits de dignité à 1241 ménages ayant fui les groupes armés qui sévissent dans les moyens et les hauts plateaux de Mwenga et de Fizi. Au mois de juillet, la Fondation Panzi avait prêté assistance à […]

COMMUNIQUÉ ON THE RESHUFFLE OF THE NORTH KIVU MILITARY COMMAND

September 6, 2023, Bukavu — We were stunned to learn of the appointment of General Nduru Chaligonza to head up military operations in North Kivu, replacing the Military Governor of North Kivu, General Constant Ndimi, who was recalled to Kinshasa for consultations following the dispatch of the Interministerial Commission sent to Goma on the instructions […]