from JEAN KASSONGO in Kinshasa, DRC
DRC Bureau
KINSHASA, (CAJ News) – CASES of cholera, measles and Mpoxare are rising alarmingly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) because of conflict and the United States suspending aid.
These are accelerating the collapse of the fragile health system, leaving millions defenseless against preventable diseases.
Cholera cases increased by 326, Mpox by 269 and measles by 95 people in North Kivu alone, during the last week of February.
This is according to Oxfam’s partners on the ground.
In January, new cases of cholera infections in the country more than doubled to over 3 850, and 67 people died, which is three times more deaths than the previous month, Oxfam calculates based on World Health Organisation (WHO) data.
DRC lacks testing centres and functional hospitals.
The destruction of displacement camps during the violence, including vital water and sanitation infrastructure, is making the situation worse.
“This is turning into a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe,” lamented Manenji Mangundu, Oxfam DRC Country Director.
The official said people were drinking water straight from contaminated rivers and springs because water tanks and sanitation facilities had been destroyed.
“When you combine this with a collapsed health system, cholera is spreading like wildfire,” Mangundu said.
Eastern DRC is under siege from rebel groups, mainly the M23.
– CAJ News