Dear friends and supporters of HG,
We are heartbroken to report the news of a devastating flood in Kalehe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the shores of Lake Kivu, which has impacted our coffee-growing community immensely. Many farming families of the Muungano cooperative are among those living in this area. On the Ground team member Herman has just returned from an in-person assessment, and the situation is even more dire than we initially anticipated.
The statistics paint a harrowing picture, with hundreds of confirmed deaths, thousands of people missing, and over 4000 homes destroyed.
Climate experts at the U.N. report that increasing temperatures due to climate change have intensified Africa's rains.
Herman witnessed firsthand the destruction in Bushushu and Nyamukubi, where the Red Cross continues to recover bodies from beneath the wreckage. Urgent needs include food, psycho-social medical care, clothing, cash, plastic sheets, hygienic kits for women, orphan care, and school support for orphaned children. Many of the victims are currently living in schools or with welcoming families, and the emotional toll of the disaster is immense.
Along with Muungano, we are working directly with two other farming cooperatives in South Kivu to bring desperately-needed aid. So far, very few organizations other than the Red Cross have been able to even make it to the area. Please join us in our mission to uplift these communities and ensure their future remains as strong and vibrant as the coffee they produce.