Fizi : houses of Burundian refugees from 1972 threatened by the waters of Lake Tanganyika

In the province of South Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 800 families, made up mostly of Burundians who fled the massacres of 1972 which killed more Hutus than Tutsis, are threatened by the rising waters of Lake Tanganyika. Those affected also say they are exposed to diseases caused by uncleanness, including cholera. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The waters of Lake Tanganyika in this part of the DRC began to rise last January. The damage is enormous.

In the villages, some residents and Burundian refugees from 1972 who have since settled there have left their homes, others are sleeping in flooded houses, while still others are building temporary shelters.

“All our land was flooded and our fields completely destroyed,” laments Emmanuel N., descendant of a Burundian refugee.

Balange André, father of eight children whose house was destroyed by water, is now building a grass hut using bamboo branches.

“We risk dying of hunger if nothing is done as soon as possible. It’s truly a catastrophic situation,” laments this father of eight children.

Fears of catching diseases

Residents, especially schoolchildren and pupils, fear catching diseases from uncleanness, including cholera. Hygiene has been poor everywhere in this region bordering Lake Tanganyika in recent times.

In Uvira, Fizi, Kalemie and Moba in the province of South Kivu, the water in Lake Tanganyika has risen significantly over the last three months, causing a lot of damage including the destruction of public infrastructure.

The king of the Babungwe groupment in the Tanganyika sector, Fizi territory, inhabited by the Babembe, the Bafulero and Burundian refugees, Charles Simbi, says that “for the moment our priority is to look for a place to settle these 800 affected families by the waters of Lake Tanganyika.