Thousands of displaced people living in DR Congo’s Biakato, Babila Babombi Chiefdom, Mambasa territory (Ituri), have been without drinking water for three weeks. The drought in the region is the cause of the water shortage, according to the Ituri civil protection coordinator. As a result of the drought, the springs and wells where these war-displaced people used to get their water are no longer producing sufficient quantities.
The situation is equally difficult for the local population. Finding drinking water in the centre of Biakato has become a headache in recent days. Several water sources set up by NGOs and private individuals are not producing enough water to meet the population’s needs. People are forced to walk dozens of kilometres into the forest in search of water, with no guarantee of its purity. This exposes them to the risk of water-borne diseases and atrocities committed by the ADF rebels operating in the region.
The displaced, who are already vulnerable, remain the most affected by this situation. The Ituri Civil Protection Service fears further loss of life and disruption to children’s schooling. Its coordinator, Robert Ndjalonga, is calling on specialist services to ensure the safety of the population as they search for water in the town of Biakato. He is also calling on the humanitarian community to intervene to save lives.
