Attachments
What happened, where and when?
Due to the intense rainfall associated with the El Niño phenomenon, the water level of Lake Tanganyika surged, leading to flooding in communities across 39 hills in 9 communes of Bujumbura (Mutimbuzi and Kabezi communes), Mairie Province (Muha, Mukaza, and Ntahangwa communes), Rumonge Province (Muhuta, Bugarama, and Rumonge communes), and Makamba Province (Nyanza Lac commune). This event exacerbated the ongoing flood and landslide operations in Cibitoke and Bujumbura Mairie, affecting areas like Murwi, Buganda, and Rugombo in Cibutoke Province, as well as Kinama, Kanyosha, and Buterere in Bujumbura Mairie.
Since March 12, 2024, the water level of Lake Tanganyika has risen by 776.76 meters, exceeding the normal level by 1.76 meters, marking the most severe increase in sixty years. In recent days, local residents have had to halt their activities, with some forced to evacuate as the lake continues to encroach upon inhabited areas.
The rising waters of Lake Tanganyika have impacted 10 communes across 4 provinces, affecting all households in the vicinity. Currently, 162,356 people are at high risk, while 66,391 individuals are already in need of assistance. Comparing the current rise in water levels to those of 2021, observations suggest an increase of approximately 100cm. The Ministry of Environment and Agriculture has advised residents in affected areas to relocate to safer, non-flooded zones.
According to data gathered by the CRB volunteer network, public infrastructure, residential buildings, and agricultural lands have been extensively damaged, as outlined below:
(1) Flooded houses : 865 in Rumonge, 32 houses in Makamba, 60 houses flooded in the Town Hall, 387houses in Bujumbura and causing the displacement of 34 households, 300 houses threatened.
(2) Public infrastructure: 2 Makamba markets flooded and the Mukungu Communal High School (NyanzaLac Commune in Makamba), more than 300 Ha of fields in BujumburaRural were damaged (Mutimbuzi and Kabezi Communes); the Port of Rumonge completely flooded, the port of Bujumbura partially flooded, and some services migrated to another area.
(3) Damaged fields: 22 Ha in NyanzaLac de Makamba, 43 Ha of damaged fields.
(4) The road from Bujumbura to DRC via Mutimbuzi commune is already flooded since 2nd March 2024 as well as the road along Tanganyika Lac in Bujumbura Town (Avenue du Large).
This situation has aggravated the humanitarian situation in Cibitoke and Bujbumura Mairie.
The intense rainfall on 26 and 27 October brought high winds and flooding to Cibitoke. Based on the need assessment key finding and with funds from DREF, BRCS launched operation Cibitoke on 15th November 2023 to assist 265 HHs.
In January 2024, other heavy rain occurred in Bujumbura town ( Kinama, Buterere, Musaga and Kanyosha) and Bubanza "Provinces (Gihanga and Mpanda). BRCS extended the DREF to assist 150 affected HH in Ntahangwa and Muha. In addition, with funds from crisis modify from Luxembourg RC and Belgium Red Cross, BRCS assisted the affected community from Cibitoke (the population affected by the landslide at Commune Murwi, Zone Ndava, Colline Nyamitanga not included in the DREF) and Bubanza (Gihanga and Mpanda Communes). This assistance focused on Cash transfer (with funds from Luxembourg Red Cross) and WASH with funds from Belgium RC.