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Kibirizi, a town in the Bwito chiefdom of Rutshuru territory in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, is grappling with a critical shortage of drinking water. The scarcity has extended to health facilities, raising serious concerns among residents. For over a month, all public water fountains, previously installed by humanitarian organizations, have reportedly run dry.

Residents are forced to seek water from distant sources, with one inhabitant recounting waking at 3 a.m. to travel to Kabanda, 5 kilometers away, only to return with empty containers as water flows minimally. This arduous search for water significantly impacts daily life and essential services.

The situation is further complicated by a large influx of thousands of displaced people into the area. Gyslaine Kahindo, a member of Kibirizi's civil society, highlighted that this displacement places additional strain on already scarce water resources. The increased demand, coupled with limited supply, creates a dire humanitarian situation.

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Today, I woke up at 3 a.m. to go get water in Kabanda, 5 kilometers from Kibirizi. Yet I return with my empty jerrycans, because the water flows only drop by drop.

Consequences are being felt acutely in local health structures. Some patients have gone days without being able to wash, and there are reports of deaths linked to dehydration. The population is urgently appealing for humanitarian assistance to address the crisis. The local water supply committee attributes the shortage to unfavorable weather conditions that have reduced water levels at a capture point built by the NGO Mercy Corps. Recurring breakdowns in the supply pipes feeding Kibirizi have also contributed to the problem.

While three new water capture points have been established in the nearby Kanyatsi mountains, the lack of pipes to connect them to the existing network prevents their immediate use. This severe shortage, lasting for weeks, forces inhabitants to trek kilometers to unregulated streams and sources, posing significant health risks.

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In Kibirizi, these nocturnal displacements particularly expose women and young girls to increased risks of sexual assault. The crisis is also accentuated by the massive arrival of displaced people from surrounding villages, exerting additional pressure on already very limited water resources.