from JEAN KASSONGO in Kinshasa, DRC
DRC Bureau
KINSHASA, (CAJ News) – FLOODS, a worsening cholera outbreak and surging armed violence have left more than 130 people dead in Central and West Africa in recent days.
Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guinea and Nigeria are the hotspots.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs documented the tragedies.
A recent surge in armed violence in Ituri province, eastern DRC, has claimed the lives of 57 civilians, worsening a severe humanitarian crisis.
Most attacks are attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The deadliest incident occurred in Komanda. The violence forced around 30 000 people to flee their homes. The latest escalation is linked to ongoing military operations by the Congolese army (FARDC) against the CRP/Zaïre armed groups as well as clashes between the militant groups.
DRC is formerly Zaire.
In Guinea, deadly floods have killed at least 34 people and affected 1 200 households. The capital Conakry is hardest hit.
In Nigeria, at least 25 people have recently died and 11 are missing following severe flash floods in Yola, in the northeastern Adamawa state.
Over 5 000 people were displaced. The floods submerged homes, destroyed infrastructure, killed livestock, and cut off access to several neighbourhoods.
Chad is suffering a worsening cholera outbreak that has claimed 16 lives, from 236 cases.
– CAJ News