Children's Parliament in Beni demands safe access to drinking water

On the occasion of International African Child Day, the Children's Parliament in Beni, located in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has launched a strong appeal to local authorities. They are demanding guaranteed safe and easy access to drinking water for the region's children. The primary goal of this advocacy is to put an end to the long and perilous journeys that minors undertake daily to fetch potable water, journeys that expose them to significant security risks.

During a conference held on Tuesday, the Beni Children's Parliament emphasized the critical importance of access to clean water and strict adherence to hygiene rules. This is particularly crucial in an area currently grappling with a resurgence of the Ebola virus disease. The Parliament highlighted that the distance to water sources has become a direct threat to the physical integrity of the youngest members of the community, especially in peri-urban areas destabilized by insecurity.

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For us, this day is very beneficial because it highlights the many challenges the child faces. We have intervened to remind the authorities of the need to strengthen security, as the areas where children go to fetch water are dangerous today. We also ask REGIDESO to multiply the number of public fountains and ensure they are sufficiently supplied, to prevent children from traveling long distances with all the risks that this entails.

Éloge Bwanakawa, president of the Children's Parliament in Beni, directly addressed decision-makers and the water distribution company. "For us, this day is very beneficial because it highlights the many challenges the child faces," he stated. "We have intervened to remind the authorities of the need to strengthen security, as the areas where children go to fetch water are dangerous today. We also ask REGIDESO [the water company] to multiply the number of public fountains and ensure they are sufficiently supplied, to prevent children from traveling long distances with all the associated risks."

Beyond infrastructure, Bwanakawa also called for the involvement of non-governmental organizations and opinion leaders to intensify awareness campaigns on hygiene and environmental protection, reminding everyone that "water is life." In the context of the Ebola outbreak, the focus on hygiene measures is paramount. Health experts participating in the conference also educated the child delegates on essential barrier gestures, which remain vital in curbing the spread of the Ebola virus. Clean water is considered the first line of defense against the epidemic that continues to claim numerous victims in the region.

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water is life