Dozens die in floods that strike the capital of the Congo

Dozens of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo died after the heavy rains of the capital, Kinshasa, were overwhelmed in the past few days, and destroyed hundreds of homes.

The NDJili River, which passes through 17 million people, one of the largest people on the continent, bombed its banks and the main submerged roads, including Lumumba Boulevard, the main road leading to the airport. Government officials said that thousands of people were unit and that at least 33 were killed, although they warned that the number of deaths is likely to rise as floods declining.

Many African countries face frequent fatal floods and dryness, which scientists attribute to climate change. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the second largest country in Africa, hundreds of people have died annually in recent years as a result of rain and severe floods.

President Felix Chesikdi visited the areas flooded by water on Saturday, promised food supplies and a safe return to those who were displaced. He blamed for the high death of the illegal settlements that spread in the city. Kinshasa rapid and unplanned growth has greatly led to a large -scale building on weak hills, which lack effective sewage systems.

“We were only able to save our lives,” said Dennis Sokali, 45, who has been protecting in a church since Saturday with her children. “I am safe with all my family, but my home is underwater.”

Congo, a country of more than 100 million people, already suffers from one of the most dangerous humanitarian crises in Africa. A 30 -year -old conflict has been reshaped in its eastern regions since the beginning of the year, killing thousands and increasing nearly seven million people.

It was one of the largest humanitarian programs in the world in 2024 in the Congo, where the United States spent $ 910 million on food, water, sanitation and shelter for the displaced, according to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs. After the United States has ended most of its foreign aid to the continent this year, about 7.8 million people lose food aid, and 2.3 million children of malnutrition.

Justin Training The reports contributed.