The inhabitants of the Isangi territory, located 125 km downstream from Kisangani, are suffering serious consequences due to the floods which have hit the region since November 15, 2024. The increase in the waters of the Congo River has paralyzed daily activities and disrupted the life in this territory.
On the educational front, several schools have already closed their doors. Faced with the increased risks of drowning, parents prefer to keep their children at home, thus suspending school activities, sometimes even without waiting for an official directive.
Justine Lifombi, resident of Isangi, reports that the waters have started to recede, but fear persists.
“Several houses are destroyed. They need to be rehabilitated or reconstructed and disinfected to prevent water-borne diseases,” she says.
On the health front, medical infrastructures located along the river are flooded, making access to care impossible for many residents. Pregnant women, in particular, can no longer go to health centers for prenatal consultations or care.
Despite the scale of the disaster, no humanitarian assistance has yet been provided to the victims.
“We are launching an SOS to the provincial and national government, as well as to humanitarian organizations, to help residents affected by the floods,” pleaded a state official.
On the socio-economic level, the floods engulfed the fields, paralyzed the markets and forced traders to set up on the roads, transforming avenues into improvised places of commerce. The scarcity of agricultural products and fish has led to a surge in prices. For example, a large chikwangue now sells for 1500 FC instead of 1000 FC, and a bunch of bananas costs 10,000 FC, more expensive than normal. Residents of outlying villages, such as Yafira and Imbolo, are no longer able to transport their products to the center of Isangi, accentuating the shortage in local markets.
Gabriel Makabu, in Kisangani
