Goma - Free access to urgent health care — "To avoid making the population suffer even more or making them sick, we do not sell water from the lake but that from the tap" - Jean-Claude Bazibuhe Selling water has been my job for 17 years, since I left the army. I am part of the association of water dealers on bicycles in Goma, a structure that allows us in this particular period to supply the population with drinking water to fight against cholera and other water-borne diseases. The demand for potable water is on the rise due to damage to the city's main water reservoir. We’re working hard to supply the households and match their critical needs. Since the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano on May 22, water has become a scarce commodity. There is no question of leaving families without water: I have seven children, I understand their difficulty. In return, they pay me to provide food for my family. I cannot take advantage of the current crisis situation to make money and double the price of my services. The price has not changed: 250 Congolese Francs (0.10 euros) for a jerrycan of 20 liters of water. Sometimes I have to ask for up to 300 FC (0.14 euros) if I had trouble getting supplies. To avoid causing further suffering to the population or making them sick, we do not sell water from the lake but that from the tap. We are still living with the traumas of that night of May 22. When the night turned red, we rushed out of the house to escape the danger. Two of my children were injured and they are still in pain. They took shelter in Minova, in South Kivu. They are back in Goma and it is now hunger that grips them. “

Nord-Kivu : « Pour éviter de rendre les gens malades, nous vendons de l’eau du robinet »

"To avoid making the population suffer even more or making them sick, we do not sell water from the lake but that from the tap" - Jean-Claude Bazibuhe Selling water has been my job for 17 years, since I left the army. I am part of the association of water dealers on bicycles in Goma, a structure that allows us in this particular period to supply the population with drinking water to fight against cholera and other water-borne diseases. The demand for potable water is on the rise due to damage to the city's main water reservoir. We’re working hard to supply the households and match their critical needs. Since the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano on May 22, water has become a scarce commodity. There is no question of leaving families without water: I have seven children, I understand their difficulty. In return, they pay me to provide food for my family. I cannot take advantage of the current crisis situation to make money and double the price of my services. The price has not changed: 250 Congolese Francs (0.10 euros) for a jerrycan of 20 liters of water. Sometimes I have to ask for up to 300 FC (0.14 euros) if I had trouble getting supplies. To avoid causing further suffering to the population or making them sick, we do not sell water from the lake but that from the tap. We are still living with the traumas of that night of May 22. When the night turned red, we rushed out of the house to escape the danger. Two of my children were injured and they are still in pain. They took shelter in Minova, in South Kivu. They are back in Goma and it is now hunger that grips them. “

Témoignages11 Juin 2021

Depuis l'éruption du Nyiragongo à Goma, la demande en eau potable est en hausse considérable en raison des dommages causés au principal réservoir d’eau de la ville. « Nous travaillons dur. Notre structure permet en cette période particulière d’approvisionner la population en eau potable pour lutter contre le choléra et d’autres maladies d’origine hydrique », précise Jean-Claude.

« Depuis le 22 mai dernier, l’eau est devenue une denrée rare. Il n’est pas question de laisser les familles sans eau : j’ai sept enfants, je comprends leur difficulté. En retour, elles me payent pour subvenir aux besoins de ma famille. Je ne peux pas profiter de la situation de crise que nous subissons actuellement pour faire de l’argent et doubler le prix de mes services. Le tarif n’a pas changé : 250 Francs congolais (0,10 euros) pour un jerrican de 20 litres d’eau.
Pour éviter de faire souffrir davantage la population ou la rendre malade, nous ne vendons pas l’eau du lac mais celle du robinet.

Nous vivons encore avec les traumatismes de cette nuit du 22 mai. Quand la nuit est devenue rouge, nous nous sommes précipités hors de la maison pour fuir le danger. Deux de mes enfants ont été blessés et ils souffrent encore. Ils se sont mis à l’abri à Minova, dans le Sud-Kivu. Ils sont de retour à Goma et c’est désormais la faim qui les tenaille. »

Trois semaines après l’éruption du volcan Nyiragongo qui a eu lieu dans la nuit du 22 au 23 mai, 200 000 personnes encore déplacées dans les provinces du Nord et Sud Kivu, mais également au Rwanda voisin, reviennent progressivement à Goma, appuyées par les services du gouvernement provincial. Ils seraient 20 000 à avoir tout perdu quand la coulée de lave s’est dirigée vers Goma, détruisant 17 villages, des centres de santé et des écoles, sur son chemin.