Anti-Erosion Works in Kananga Offer Hope to Residents

Kananga, the capital of Kasai-Central, is breathing a sigh of relief as the anti-erosion works under the World Bank-funded PURUK project gain momentum. Radio Okapi reports on the significant strides made in filling ravines, which had long isolated communities and endangered vital infrastructure. This intervention is not merely about infrastructure; it's about restoring normalcy and safety to the lives of Kananga's residents.

The PURUK project, a crucial government initiative supported by a $100 million USD loan from the World Bank, is tackling the city's severe erosion problem, with over 800 identified sites. The impact is already palpable. On Tabora Avenue, the completion of works means an end to the daily struggles of residents who previously faced perilous crossings. As one inhabitant noted, the ease of passage now is a stark contrast to the past dangers, including children falling into ravines.

Beyond residential areas, the project is safeguarding critical social infrastructure like schools and health centers, which had suffered from isolation and a lack of access. However, the scale of the challenge remains immense. Civil society groups, while acknowledging the progress, are calling for an acceleration of the works. They emphasize that Kananga's survival depends on a swift and comprehensive approach to combatting the gradual collapse threatened by erosion, a perspective often overlooked in international reports that may not fully grasp the existential threat this poses to the city.

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We suffered because there were no passages. Some children fell into the ravine and broke bones. Today, we are happy because passage is becoming easy.