Bujumbura: the north of the commercial city, Epicenter of monkeypox diseaseaffected by lack of drinking water

Since October 18, residents of the northern areas of the economic capital Bujumbura have been facing a glaring lack of drinking water following a large pipe supplying the area which was destroyed. The Regideso services, the state company in charge of distributing water and electricity, are struggling to repair it. Residents fear diseases from dirty hands and a worsening of the situation in these areas, the epicenter of monkeypox. Ravines, rivers and gutters have become a bulwark for households who speak of an untenable situation.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Not a drop in the taps of the 6 zones that make up the commune of Ntahangwa in the north of the commercial city of Bujumbura since October 18. Mobile transporters have taken advantage of this. They go in search of drinking water outside Ntahangwa, for 5,000 Burundian francs per 20-liter can.

Untenable situation

Heads of households speak of an “untenable” situation.

In the Ngagara zone for example, almost all households use water closets, which requires permanent access to water.

“I have been spending between 25 and 30 thousand francs on water alone every day since Friday. Added to this are other daily needs in a situation of extreme inflation. The situation has become untenable,” lamented a man from the Ngagara zone.

Ravines, gutters and rivers become a rampart

Several residents of northern Bujumbura wait for a drop of water on a public tap, in vain, DR

Several residents, most of them domestic workers, spend entire days waiting for a drop of water on public taps, in vain. They fall back on dirty water from ravines, rivers and gutters.

“I waited my turn from 4am until this evening to have a single 20-litre can,” lamented a domestic worker interviewed by SOS Médias Burundi on Monday evening.

Epicentre of Mpox and presence of cholera

The northern areas of Bujumbura constitute the epicentre of monkeypox in Burundi. The cholera epidemic has also been declared in this part of the commercial city since January 2023.

Residents say they fear a worsening of the situation. They are asking the government to “come to our aid before it is too late”.

Last Saturday, Regideso, the state-owned company responsible for distributing water and electricity, issued a press release to inform the population of the northern areas of the economic capital Bujumbura that the supply of drinking water would be disrupted over the weekend. A large pipe supplying this part was destroyed. Regideso services are struggling to repair it.

The commune of Ntahangwa in the north of Bujumbura, which includes the areas of Ngagara, Kinama, Kamenge, Buterere, Cibitoke and Gihosha, has more than 500 thousand inhabitants.

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Residents of the northern districts of Bujumbura fall back on water from the gutters, DR