United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
Monuc Bukavu
18 February 2008
The inhabitants of South Kivu's territories saw their daily life upended by a series of earthquakes that have struck the area since 3 February 2008, because of movements of the Rift Valley tectonic plate which traverses the east of Africa.
The seismic activity left 7 dead, 542 wounded and 3,465 houses and public buildings damaged. Humanitarian organisations and the authorities continue to aid the victims.
These natural disasters and their aftershocks also caused emotional trauma: the reactions to the stress are numerous, in children and adults, and the health systems are installing a network of psychological assistance.
With many houses either completely destroyed, seriously dilapidated or partially damaged, a strong concern was expressed on the streets.
"I was lucky that nobody was seriously wounded at home during the earthquake; now, its impossible to sleep in the house with my children, as another quake can destroy my family", said one survivor.
"Of course, officials came to inspect our dwellings and they recommended not to remain here, but where can I go with my children?" she added.
Measures have been taken by the provincial and urban authorities and UN agencies to assist the wounded and vulnerable in mitigating the extent of the destruction. On the day of the violent quake of 3 February, the ad interim South Kivu Governor Bernard Watunakanza established a crisis committee.
The authorities, the humanitarians under the UN humanitarian coordinating agency OCHA and other UN agencies such as UNICEF, WHO, and MONUC's South Kivu Brigade and Police supported the PNC and the FARDC during security patrols.
This was to ensure the security of the inhabitants, many of whom were spending the night outside their houses, in order to avoid looting and exactions by criminal elements.
UNHCR and MONUC also distributed covers and tents for their homeless people. To aid the return to normal life, an emergency stock of 150 tents came from the UN bases in Brindisi, Italy, to allow damaged health and educational establishments to continue their activities.
Food and household items were distributed by the World Food Programme (WFP) to 187 hospital patients in six hospitals in Bukavu and the surrounding areas.
Other humanitarian agencies quickly provided disaster assistance. The ICRC distributed food rations to 10 families whose heads of household were seriously wounded in the localities of Kabare and Mudaka. Action Aid distributed kitchen kits to 90 households whose houses became uninhabitable in the three districts of Bukavu (Bagira, Ibanda and Kadutu). CORDAID gave food rations for 169 patients and 1,517 households in Bukavu and its environs, thanks to lists drawn up by CARITAS and other humanitarian agencies.
Furthermore, the IRC/RRM coordination urgently built two schools in Bukavu for 2,836 pupils.
The Volcanic Observatory of Goma (OVG), financed mainly by the International community since the devastating Nyiragongo volcano eruption in January 2002, dispatched an expert on the first day of the earthquake.
The expert was reinforced by a team of other researchers who later arrived with measuring instruments, making it possible to improve the monitoring of volcanic activity in the area.
In coordination with the provincial authorities and the OVG scientists, the media largely took part in the sensitisation of the population. An integrated information network is being compiled, in particular to point out the recommendations and actions to be taken to limit the effects of the disaster.
In addition, at the request of OCHA, a team of experts of UNDAC, the UN organisation for natural disasters, has been dispatched from Geneva to be on-site for one week to make an evaluation of the current risks in the damaged buildings, and to make a long term plan for future rehabilitation.
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