In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, conflict around the Kivu region has forced thousands to flee into Tanganyika province, turning it into a refuge that’s stretching local resources to the brink.
Most displaced have poured out of South Kivu after clashes involving the M23 rebel group. While many crossed into Burundi, Tanganyika—south of South Kivu—has seen a heavy influx, according to local authorities.
A long journey for safety
Muzinga Angelani Salumu, who escaped Bukavu when it fell to M23 fighters last February, has barely found rest. She now lives in Ongwa village, near Kalemie. “First we camped in Ndufita in May,” she recalls. “There were diseases everywhere and we suffered so much. We were moved here in August, but the suffering continues.” 😔
The International Organization for Migration reports that by last August more than 250,000 people had arrived in Tanganyika. Shockingly, 80% are staying with host families rather than in camps, putting immense pressure on food, water, housing and health services.
Ongwa village chief Bumbu Mwamba Amiri warns communities are at a breaking point: “Since they arrived, we face overpopulation and food shortages. When you flee, you don’t bring food with you.”
Humanitarian agencies struggle with chronic funding gaps, limiting essential aid. In March, the UN Refugee Agency said its emergency stocks in Kalemie were nearly exhausted, raising fears about the future of relief efforts.
Some displaced people now wonder if fleeing was the right choice. “We wonder if we were wrong to leave our homes,” says Wachwa Mwilungu Imani. “Perhaps we should have stayed and endured the misery.”
There was a glimmer of hope this past December, when the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signed a US-brokered peace agreement. Yet for many on the ground, little has changed.
With conflict ongoing and new arrivals still coming, Tanganyika’s capacity to shelter the displaced is nearing its limit. Communities, aid workers and families wait anxiously for a lasting solution. 🙏
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
