Key points:
- A fire in Bukavu killed at least five people and left more than 70 United Methodist households without shelter or resources.
- In a region already hit by insecurity and an Ebola outbreak, The United Methodist Church is working to respond.
- Ibanda United Methodist Church arranged emergency housing in members’ homes, and the Disaster Management Office is assessing priority needs.
- Bishop Antoine Kalema Tambwe calls for prayer and support.
More than 70 United Methodist families are homeless after a devastating fire swept through several neighborhoods in eastern Congo, a region already weakened by insecurity and the reemergence of Ebola.
Overnight on Sept. 20-21, the fire destroyed more than 500 homes in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province. At least five people were killed.
How to help
Donations can be made to the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s International Disaster Response Advance #982450. Money from this fund is used to respond to disasters around the world.
The Rev. Henock Musehura of Ibanda United Methodist Church in Bukavu said more than 70 households in his congregation lost everything in the Irambo 1 and Irambo 2 neighborhoods.
“Given the critical situation of some households, I asked some members living in other neighborhoods to kindly take in the affected families while we wait for other measures to be taken. We must help one another while we are alive,” he said.
The tragedy comes amid an already difficult regional context. Bukavu has been under the control of the M23 rebellion since early 2025, and eastern Congo is battling an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo variant. Since the start of the outbreak in May, there have been 7,890 confirmed cases in Congo, including 3,799 deaths, according to a Sept. 23 report from the National Institute of Public Health. For affected families sleeping in the open, crowded and unsafe conditions increase health risks.
Moïse Mwango Numbalanga with the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s Disaster Management Office in the Bukavu District went to the site to assess the damage.
“Several households no longer have permanent, comfortable shelter, food or clothing, hence the need to intervene first with food, cooking utensils and hygiene kits for women, as well as medicine because some have wounds,” he said.
Mwango said that, so far, those affected have not yet received any assistance. However, Jean Tshomba, coordinator of UMCOR’s Disaster Management Office in East Congo, said needs assessments are underway.
“For our part, our Disaster Management Office quickly notified partners, who expressed their wish to respond with a solidarity grant in the coming days to bring some relief to the families affected by this disaster,” Tshomba said.
On Sept. 28, UMCOR confirmed that a $10,000 emergency grant is being processed through the Disaster Management Office.
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According to Mwango, the new tragedy comes barely 10 days after a fire in the Chimpunda neighborhood, on Funu B and Kasheke avenues. Stampedes at the Ujamaa and Furaha schools there had claimed the lives of 27 students.
Clovis Cuma Bazibuhe, a member of Ibanda United Methodist Church, is among the survivors of the Sept. 20-21 fires. He escaped safely with his family, but saw all his belongings burned.
“If I am alive today, I am absolutely certain that I will have other possessions another day, with the Lord’s help,” Cuma said.
Prince Wabikamba, a nurse at the United Methodist Irambo Health Center, lost his home, as well as two other houses belonging to his older sister and his uncle in the same neighborhood.
“I was on duty at the hospital that day. In the morning, I found my house reduced to ashes, and I was at a loss for words. Only God can help us,” Wabikamba said.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but investigations are underway.
Vicky Salima, a member of The United Methodist Church who lost her home, is among the most vulnerable. Her husband died of a heart attack in July.
“Today, I am a widow, and I don’t know where to go with my three children. My whole house went up in smoke, and I have not received any help,” she said.
The Rev. Esther Furaha Kachiko, superintendent of the Bukavu District, expressed deep sadness over the ordeal. She appealed to people of goodwill for urgent action.
“As a church, we must act as soon as possible,” she said.
United Methodist Bishop Antoine Tambwe Kalema of the East Congo Episcopal Area asked all United Methodists to pray for the people of eastern Congo and keep them in their thoughts, as suffering continues to affect the population and the church.
“In all circumstances, we must think of the Lord. Sooner or later, all this suffering will end, and the population will return to normal life. Let us entrust ourselves to the Lord, for victory will come from Him,” Kalema said. “Let everyone mobilize wherever they are to support the victims of this fire.”
Lolonga is a communicator for Kivu Conference.
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