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

Related Content

Message de condoléances et de compassion du Dr Denis MUKWEGE aux familles des victimes des inondations et à la population du territoire de Kalehe

Mes chers compatriotes, Chers frères et sœurs, C’est avec beaucoup de peine que j’ai appris la triste nouvelle de la catastrophe naturelle et humaine hautement dommageable causée par les inondations dans le territoire de Kalehe suite aux fortes pluies qui s’abattent sur la région depuis quelques jours. Le bilan est lourd, plus de 170 morts, […]

International Women’s Month 2023

March is widely known as Women’s History Month, a season in which we celebrate the resilience and achievements of women and girls around the globe. It is also an opportunity for reflection, and a solemn reminder that for many around the globe, womanhood is not celebrated, and instead a cause of their oppression. As March […]

Statement by Dr. Mukwege on the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day 2023

On this March 8, our thoughts go out to all women around the world who fight every day to have their fundamental rights respected, to gain economic autonomy, and to make their voices heard in a world that remains strongly marked by patriarchy—the source of so much suffering, exclusion and discrimination. It is therefore not […]