Vatican, 08 January, 2024 / 3:39 pm (ACI Africa).
Pope Francis has expressed his closeness to the people of God in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following extreme flooding that has resulted in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of thousands.
Described as the “worst flooding”in the Central African nation since 1961, the floods were reportedly triggered by a month of exceptionally heavy rainfall, resulting in deadly landslides and collapsing of buildings.
“I am very close to the peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, afflicted by floods in recent days,” the Holy Father said at the end of the Sunday, January 7 Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
At least 300 people have died and 43,750 houses, 1,325 schools, 259 health centers and 41 markets have collapsed following the floods, DRC’s Ministry of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Actions, and National Solidarity, Modeste Mutinga, said on January 5.
According to a January 7 Radio Okapi in DRC report, more than 300,000 households have been affected by the floods that started after the rise of waters in River Congo and other rivers in the country, with members at risk of waterborne diseases.
