Hi friends! Have you heard about South Kivu? It’s a place in a country called the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Africa. Right now, many people there are facing tough times.
Recently, there has been a lot of fighting in South Kivu. A bomb exploded in a town called Nyabibwe and hurt three people. It also broke some important power lines that give electricity to people’s homes. Nyabibwe is about 60 kilometers (that’s like 37 miles) away from Bukavu, the main city in the area.
Because of the fighting, thousands of people are leaving their homes to find safer places. Imagine having to pack your things and walk for miles because it’s not safe to stay home! Many are heading towards Bukavu, but even there, they are worried. A group called the March 23 Movement (or M23) might attack Bukavu too.
In another place called Goma, lots of people are also on the move. Helpers from the United Nations (that’s an organization that works to keep peace and help people worldwide) are checking to see how everyone is doing.
Sadly, some people who were helping, called NGO workers (that stands for Non-Governmental Organization workers), were killed in a bombing in North Kivu. Because of that, they had to stop giving out food and helping with farming in that area.
Many people have tried to go back home. About 33,000 people returned to villages near Goma. But when they got there, they found that hospitals and clinics were destroyed. Medicines are running out, and doctors and nurses are either not there or have too many people to help.
This makes it easy for diseases to spread. Illnesses like cholera (which can make you very sick with stomach problems), malaria (spread by mosquitoes), measles, and even tuberculosis are making people sick. Since the start of the year, nearly 600 people got sick with cholera, and 14 people have died.
Also, because the water pipes were broken in Goma, people have to get water from Lake Kivu. But this water can have germs that make people sick.
The World Health Organization (or WHO) is sending doctors, nurses, and supplies to help. They are giving out medicines, clean water kits, and even tents to make space for more patients in hospitals. But they need more help because supplies are running out fast.
It’s a hard time for the people in South Kivu and North Kivu. They need all the help they can get to stay safe and healthy. Let’s keep them in our thoughts and hope things get better soon. ❤️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
