Congo/ Response to natural disasters: strengthening the resilience of flood victims

Called "Kolendissa", the project aims to strengthen the resilience of the population in the departments of Sangha, Plateaux, Cuvette and Likouala to flooding, and was launched on December 10 in Brazzaville by Irène Marie-Cécile Mboukou-Kimbatsa, Minister of Social Affairs, Solidarity and Humanitarian Action.

The Kolendissa project aims to strengthen the resilience of high-risk communities to flooding in the northern part of the Republic of Congo through national capacity building and community-based disaster risk management. It is funded by the US government, through the US Embassy via the Office of Humanitarian Assistance of the US Agency for International Development. The overall budget for the project is 5.5 million dollars, or 3.4 billion FCFA, divided between the following three sectors: natural and technological hazards: 1.6 million dollars, or 1.01 billion FCFA; disaster risk reduction policies and practices: 2.6 million dollars, or 1.6 billion FCFA; economic recovery and market system: 1.2 million dollars, or 775.3 million FCFA.

This project will directly affect more than 237,566 people, including 119,496 women and 118,070 men. " I am delighted to have this opportunity today to join you in officially launching the project to strengthen the population's resilience to flooding. Indeed, according to the meteorological services, water levels in rivers and streams are likely to rise this year... "said Irène Marie-Cécile Mboukou-Kimbatsa.

Taking into account the data collected and analyzed by the Agence nationale de l'aviation civile and the Institut de recherche en sciences exactes et humaines, she continued, the Republic of Congo runs the risk of once again being confronted with a serious risk of flooding.Once again, the Republic of Congo runs the risk of being confronted with a serious humanitarian emergency, following the floods recorded at the end of 2024 and with a greater probability of extension into the first quarter of next year.

To support this action, the United States, in partnership with Catholic relief services, Caritas Congo and the Congolese Red Cross, will work with the Congolese government at all levels to improve flood early warning systems to prevent cyclical disasters. The partners will also work at community level to ensure that the most vulnerable population is prepared for possible floods and to reduce their impact in the Congo Basin.

The Kolendissa project aims to build flood resilience for 185121 people, including 46,280 displaced persons and 9256 refugees. In addition, 7,800 people will benefit from improved access to financial services thanks to the "internal savings and credit communities" approach.SILC " approach, aimed at improving their economic resilience. The launch of Kolendissa comes at a crucial time, as according to the project's baseline study, 96.12 of those surveyed are exposed to a high risk of poverty.are at high risk of being severely affected by flooding, while 86.53% fear the consequences. As far as shock mitigation measures are concerned, 88.36% of respondents have no specific measures in place, and 81% are resigned to taking no initiative in preparing for possible future shocks (...).

source: www.adiac-congo.com