Torrential rains and flooding devastated Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), over the weekend, leaving homes destroyed and families grieving.
Heavy rains caused the Ndjili River to overflow, triggering floods that devastated the neighborhood of Debonhomme in Kinshasa and resulting in significant destruction.
Residents are now struggling to salvage their belongings after severe floods battered their homes, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.
Silvain Kanku is among hundreds of victims who are counting their losses.
"All my household items, money and clothes got destroyed. I only managed to get this suitcase and some shoes. I've lost my savings, food rations, a refrigerator and new chairs. I'm going to have to start life from scratch," he said.
Some parents are grieving deeply, like Bijoux Moyo, who is searching desperately for her missing child.
"I just don't know where all of this will end up. One of my children is still missing. I was told my neighbors got her, but I don't know where they took her," said Moyo.
Civil society leaders have criticized the government for granting permissions to build in unplanned areas, exacerbating the destruction caused by heavy rains.
"Whenever it rains heavily, there is a lot of destruction because of people's failure to respect the norms of urban planning. We Congolese like constructing houses wherever we please. But the government should bear the biggest blame for granting people permission to build in unplanned areas," said Crispin Kobolongo, a civil society leader.
At least 33 people have been confirmed dead following heavy rains that flooded Kinshasa, authorities said early Monday.
Meteorologists forecast continued heavy rainfall in the coming days, raising fears of further destruction in the city of 17 million people.
The DRC's rainy season typically runs from November through May.
Kinshasa floods cause widespread destruction, with residents struggling to recover
Farmers in India, a major agricultural producer and fertilizer importer, are raising concerns over fertilizer availability ahead of the planting season, as the escalating Middle East conflict and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz put global supplies at risk.
The Middle East serves as both a vital energy hub and a major global fertilizer supplier, yet the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has heightened risks of disruption to international supplies.
Chand Singh Yadav, a farmer in Haryana, a northern Indian state, said poor crop yields would be disastrous for the country and called on the government to ensure adequate supplies of fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent a food crisis. "Without fertilizers, our crops will not grow well, and this would be disastrous for the entire country. If farmers cannot grow crops, people will not be able to buy food in the market. We urge the government to improve the supply system for fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent the country and society as a whole from sliding into a food crisis," he said.
The Indian government is stepping up subsidies for farmers and optimizing fertilizer distribution and allocation to stabilize the supply. Prices have remained broadly stable, but demand is expected to surge ahead of the planting season, potentially exacerbating supply pressures.
"The current situation is worrying for us farmers. Spring sowing has not yet started, and the rainy season has not arrived. Fertilizer prices are temporarily stable, but in two months, demand for agricultural fertilizers will become pressing. Without fertilizers, it will be difficult to properly cultivate various types of crops. Urea and diammonium phosphate are especially critical. Crops can only grow normally when these fertilizers are applied. As these fertilizers are largely imported, if the conflict persists, supplies cannot be guaranteed," said Santosh Mishra, a farmer in India's eastern state of Odisha.
Escalating Middle East conflict strains India’s fertilizer supply
Escalating Middle East conflict strains India’s fertilizer supply
