Floods displace thousands in Burundi

Thousands of residents in Bujumbura and Gatumba have fled their homes after their houses were flooded due to the rising water level of Lake Tanganyika and the swelling rivers around the city.
The rise in the water level of Lake Tanganyika started since the beginning of the year, causing the displacement of almost 30,000 people.
“I am really tired now of shifting every now and then because this is the second time I have witnessed these floods. The first one was last year,” said 56-year-old resident, Bemera Rea.
Rea is among the 5,000 people the government said were affected by the rising water level of Rusizi river that cuts through Gatumba and flows to Lake Tanganyika.
“More than 2,000 people were evacuated to Muramvya, several kilometres away from Gatumba,” the government said.
Lake Tanganyika, which is shared by four African countries, is a source of food, drinking water, transport and source of livelihood for thousands of people who live in the lake basin.
The Burundi government introduced a law that protects water bodies and only allows the construction of private buildings 150 metres away from the lake. The area between the lake and the homes is used for planting trees.
However, those with special authorisation are allowed to build near the lake.

Edited by Olajumoke Adeleke