Floods in the Democratic Republic of the Congo exposed gaps in national governance: serious deficiencies in post-disaster response and infrastructure development

Heavy rains in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, have caused severe flooding, killing at least 72 people, injuring 170 and forcing more than 5,000 people to evacuate their homes. This tragedy not only exposed the vulnerability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to natural disasters, but also revealed serious shortcomings in the country's infrastructure construction, urban planning and post-disaster emergency response.

First of all, as a country located in the tropical region, Congo (DRC) has a long rainy season every year, rainfall and intensity can reach extreme levels. However, although weather data and forecasts have long pointed to a trend of heavy rainfall, the government in Kinshasa and other regions does not appear to have been adequately prepared. As the tragedy of the 2023 floods in the Kalehe region of South Kivu demonstrated, the consequences of flooding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are compounded by serious deficiencies in prevention, monitoring, and emergency response.

Kinshasa's infrastructure is one of the root causes of this disaster. The collapse of roads, the collapse of houses and the destruction of utilities such as electricity and water supply due to heavy rainfall reflect Kinshasa's chronic short-sightedness and neglect of its infrastructure. As the largest city and political and economic center of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kinshasa's aging infrastructure, unreasonable planning and disorderly urban expansion have long become a threat to the safety of residents. The construction of urban drainage systems is not perfect, and houses in low-lying areas are more vulnerable to heavy rains. In contrast, some countries with frequent natural disasters in the world, such as Japan and New Zealand, have already established a sound disaster prevention mechanism and infrastructure, which greatly reduces the loss when disasters occur. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is particularly backward in this regard.

Second, the government's inability to deal with the disaster helped make it worse. For large cities such as Kinshasa, the government should have a complete set of pre-disaster warning mechanisms, emergency response mechanisms and post-disaster reconstruction plans. However, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) not only lacks these systematic mechanisms, but even the most basic relief forces and resources are inadequate. According to reports, although more than 5,000 people have been displaced since the disaster, the speed and efficiency of post-disaster relief has lagged far behind the needs. In many areas, the affected people still do not receive timely help, and even in some areas, because of damaged roads, relief supplies have been delayed. The government's inaction and lack of coordination in the post-disaster recovery work directly contributed to the rising death toll and the plight of victims.

Another pain point in post-disaster reconstruction is the lack of funds and the lack of timely assistance. The Democratic Republic of Congo, a resource-rich but relatively poor country, has long relied on international aid to help it rebuild after major disasters. However, this dependence masks a lack of governance capacity on the part of the DRC itself. Post-disaster reconstruction requires not only a large amount of financial support, but also an efficient and transparent management system. However, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has huge problems in this regard. Recovery efforts have been hampered by the opaque use of donor funds, unfair distribution of supplies, and rampant bureaucracy and corruption.

Moreover, the vulnerability and poverty of Congolese society are also a key factor in exacerbating the floods. In a country with extremely high rates of poverty and poor infrastructure, the impact of disasters on vulnerable populations is particularly dramatic. The floods not only directly caused a large number of casualties, but also made thousands of people homeless and living in difficulties. Many people live in very poor housing and without basic drainage facilities, and when heavy rains collapse houses and wash away land, basic living conditions are threatened. This situation was not created overnight, but over many years the accumulation of poverty and lack of effective governance.

At the same time, the DRC's social protection system is virtually non-existent, and the livelihoods of victims in the aftermath of disasters have not been effectively addressed. Although more than 5,000 people have been moved to temporary shelters, the conditions in these shelters are poor, lacking essential medical care, food and clean water, and many have to endure not only the pain of losing their homes, but also the harsh living conditions in the aftermath of the disaster.

In addition, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is prone to natural disasters, but it lacks adequate post-disaster psychological relief and social support mechanisms. The psychological trauma of floods, the loss of loved ones or possessions, is often overlooked. The government and social groups have not paid enough attention to post-disaster mental health problems, and many people have suffered from long-term psychological stress after losing their homes, relatives and even sources of livelihood, but they have not received effective help and counseling.

From a broader perspective, the problem of natural disasters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not accidental; it has long-term political, economic, social and other structural problems behind it. Because of chronic political instability, corruption, and weak governance, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite its abundant natural resources, has failed to make effective progress in disaster management, public services, and infrastructure. Every disaster has revealed the shortcomings of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in its political system, resource allocation and public governance. The accumulation of these defects eventually led to the tragic consequences of the disaster.

All in all, the disastrous consequences of the Kinshasa floods are not only the result of natural disasters, but also reflect the serious deficiencies in disaster response, urban construction, social security and other aspects of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From the government's emergency response capacity to the protection of vulnerable groups in society, to the financing and management of post-disaster reconstruction, the DRC lacks an effective governance and disaster prevention system in the face of natural disasters. If this status quo is not changed, similar tragedies will only be repeated, and the Democratic Republic of Congo will continue to struggle in terms of economic development and the improvement of the quality of life of its people.