Gongo WildFires leave 10,000 homeless
Pastor Dale Morgan
*
*DRC: WildFires leave thousands homeless in Maniema province*
26 Sep 2006 14:07:22 GMT
Source: IRIN
NAIROBI, 26 September (IRIN) - At least 10,000 people have been left
homeless after wildfires destroyed eight villages in the Congo's
southeastern Maniema province, NGOs have said.
The fires, mainly in and around the gold-mining Salamabila area, 365 km
from the main town of Kindu, destroyed at least 1,500 homes in eight
villages, the NGO DanChurchAid said.
Salamabila is one of six collectivities making up the Kabambare
Territory. It is home to 53,964 inhabitants, with 10,984 living in the
Namoya agglomeration. Those affected by the fires have been living in
churches and schools or with neighbours while others have remained in
their burnt houses.
According to the NGO, there is also the risk of widespread malnutrition
among children in the affected households.
There has been a rise in the number of fires in Maniema since June, with
some 380 houses burnt between 4 and 10 September. At least 2,600 people
were left without shelter in the latest incident, according to a report
by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA).
On 15 June, 1,025 houses were burnt, making 5,060 people homeless.
Earlier the Kimbanseke market was set on fire by unknown persons.
Most of the homes are constructed with straw, making them highly flammable.
Aid for the homeless has slowly trickled in, with 767 non-food kits
comprising blankets, medication, condoms and second-hand clothes being
provided by the Catholic NGO, CARITAS; CONADER, the national agency
overseeing the disarmament and reintegration programme; and the United
Nations Population Fund.
However, the assistance remains insufficient given the numbers affected.
It is hard to provide aid to the people as the area is densely forested,
DanChurchAid said.
The non-food aid is also expensive as it has to be transported by
bicycle for weeks, the NGO said.
The NGO plans to distribute food aid, non-food items and agricultural
equipment to secure the next season's harvest.
OCHA has also pleaded for help for the fire victims and is working with
other NGOs to train the people to build houses with tiles.