Sunday morning, February 3, two earthquakes shook the Great Lakes Region. The first, which hit 12 miles outside of Bukavu, Congo came with a magnitude of 6.0. The second quake, whose center was at the Rwanda’s Southwestern border (also close to Bukavu), had a magnitude of 5.0. Thirty deaths have been reported as the search for survivors continues. Over 350 individuals have been reported injured in Congo and Rwanda, however, at this point, accurate assessment proves challenging as Bukavu and its neighboring communities continue to experience tremors.
FH staff in Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi are all reported to be safe, however some staff based in Bukavu have suffered serious damages to their homes. Assessments have begun in DRC to determine the scope of injuries and destruction sustained in surrounding communities. Collaborations with partnering relief organizations are in progress as FH DRC continues to investigate appropriate intervention and support. In Bukavu, a study is in underway exploring the possibility of assisting in reconstruction efforts of a collapsed market.
