Responding Inclusively to Floods in Kalemie/DRC

Acting for an Inclusive Flood Response

Project Summary

Since the end of 2023, the city of Kalemie, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been hit by severe flooding, causing devastating consequences—especially for people with disabilities. At least 90 vulnerable households have lost their homes, leaving them homeless, without resources, and without access to basic services.

In response to this humanitarian emergency, our project aims to provide an inclusive response, focusing on accessibility, protection, economic reintegration, and the active participation of people with disabilities.

Context and Challenges

Flooding has had particularly harsh impacts on persons with disabilities:

• Limited accessibility: Destroyed infrastructure makes it hard to access water, healthcare, and food.
• Increased protection risks: Emergency shelters are often not adapted to specific needs, exposing people to abuse, neglect, and violence.
• Loss of livelihoods and essential equipment: Many have lost items such as wheelchairs or crutches, making it nearly impossible to resume economic activity.
• Social exclusion: Their voices are often left out of decision-making processes.

Project Objectives

1. Improved Accessibility:

• Rehabilitate roads and public spaces to ensure safe and accessible movement.
• Establish accessible water and healthcare points for all.

2. Strengthened Protection and Safety:

• Build emergency shelters adapted to the needs of persons with disabilities.
• Train rescue teams on disability inclusion and specific needs in emergencies.

3. Economic and Social Support:

• Distribute essential equipment (wheelchairs, crutches, mattresses, etc.).
• Support economic recovery through microcredit and vocational training.

4. Inclusion and Participation:

• Create mechanisms to involve beneficiaries in planning and decision-making.
• Raise community awareness on the rights of people with disabilities.

Expected Outcomes

• 90 households resettled in safe and dignified living conditions.
• Inclusive infrastructure enabling long-term accessibility.
• Economic empowerment through sustainable income-generating initiatives.
• Stronger community bonds, promoting social cohesion and solidarity.

Long-Term Vision

This project goes beyond emergency response. It aims to build a foundation for inclusive resilience. By creating a response that is accessible to everyone, we are contributing to a society where every individual—regardless of ability—can participate and thrive.

Partnership with GlobalGiving

Thanks to our partnership with GlobalGiving, a trusted global crowdfunding platform, we are confident that we will reach our project budget goal of $45,000.
This collaboration helps us reach a global audience of supporters, ensuring transparency, impact, and sustainability in how funds are used.

To date, no funding has been collected yet, but we remain confident that with your help, we will achieve our goal and uplift those who are most vulnerable.

Call to Action

We are making an urgent appeal to donors, partners, and all people of goodwill:

- Join us in this essential mission.
-Every donation, no matter the amount, makes a difference.
-Together, we can build a more inclusive, humane, and resilient response.

Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank everyone who has contributed so far, and all those who plan to do so.
Your solidarity is the light of hope for families left behind by this crisis.

Conclusion

This project is more than a humanitarian intervention—it is a collective commitment to dignity, inclusion, and equality.
With your support, and with the help of GlobalGiving, we will make a real difference.

Report Title:

Inclusive Response to Floods in Kalemie (DRC)

Introduction

The heavy rains of late 2023 and early 2024 have devastated the Kalemie region in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly affecting people with disabilities. Approximately 90 households have lost their homes, and these already vulnerable individuals are now homeless and without support. The project "Inclusive Response to Floods in Kalemie" aims to address the urgent needs of these populations by providing inclusive solutions in the areas of temporary shelter, access to essential services, economic and social support, and protection.

Through collaboration with GlobalGiving, we are confident that we can achieve our goal of raising $45,000 to implement this project and help people with disabilities recover from this disaster.

Project Objectives

1. Improving Accessibility:
• Rehabilitate infrastructure to ensure access for people with disabilities.
• Implement solutions to facilitate access to drinking water, medical care, and food.
2. Strengthening Protection and Security:
• Build accessible emergency shelters offering a safe environment.
• Train rescue teams on the specific needs of people with disabilities to ensure adequate care.
3. Economic and Social Support:
• Distribute essential equipment and supplies (wheelchairs, crutches, etc.).
• Support economic recovery through microloans and professional training.
4. Inclusion and Participation:
• Encourage active participation of people with disabilities in decision-making processes.
• Raise awareness within the local community about the rights of people with disabilities and the importance of their social inclusion.

Expected Benefits

• Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure:
  Adapting infrastructure for accessibility benefits not only people with disabilities but the entire community, thus strengthening resilience to future crises.
• Strengthened Social Cohesion:
  Including people with disabilities in emergency interventions promotes social inclusion and fosters solidarity within the community. Cooperation between institutions enhances social cohesion and the effectiveness of humanitarian actions.
• Empowerment of People with Disabilities:
  Through training and economic support, people with disabilities will be able to rebuild their lives, recover lost assets, and resume their economic activities.

Challenges Encountered

1. Accessibility:
• Damaged infrastructure limits travel for people with disabilities, making it difficult to access essential services (water, medical care, food).
2. Protection and Security:
• Emergency shelters are often not designed to meet the specific needs of people with disabilities, increasing the risk of abuse, neglect, and violence.
3. Loss of Essential Equipment:
• Many households have lost vital equipment such as wheelchairs and crutches, compromising their autonomy.
4. Invisibility and Exclusion:
• People with disabilities are often invisible in emergency responses, reinforcing their social exclusion and marginalization.

Project Budget

The total budget for the project is $45,000. While these funds have not yet been fully raised, we are confident that, with the collaboration of GlobalGiving, we will reach our goal. The funds will be used for:

• Rehabilitating accessible infrastructure
• Constructing accessible emergency shelters
• Distributing essential support equipment
• Training rescue teams
• Implementing economic and social support programs

Call to Donors

We call on all donors, individuals, and supporting institutions to contribute to this impactful project. Your contribution will transform the lives of people with disabilities in Kalemie, giving them a real opportunity for reintegration and dignity. Together, we can make a real difference in their lives.

We sincerely thank all those who have already contributed to this project, and we encourage others to join us in this collective effort.

Conclusion

The "Inclusive Response to Floods in Kalemie" project is more than just a humanitarian response: it is an opportunity to advance inclusion and promote the rights of people with disabilities during a crisis. With the support of GlobalGiving and donors like you, we have the chance to change lives and ensure a safer, more equitable future for these vulnerable populations.

Thank you for your commitment.