Les conséquences humaines et environnementales des produits chimiques et déchets dues à la pandémie du COVID-19 dans la ville de Bukavu et ses environs

For this project, Front Commun pour la Protection de l’Environnement et des Espaces Proteges (FCPEEP) reviewed documentation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, describing and briefly commenting on the situation in the South Kivu province, DR Congo; analyzed the impacts of the pandemic on the proliferation of chemicals and waste; designed public awareness materials to alert the general public of the hidden potential hazards from chemicals extensively used during the coronavirus health crisis; and shared the results of the study with relevant stakeholders. FCPEEP also provided some concrete recommendations to local authorities in order to minimize the adverse effects of the measures put in place to fight against COVID-19, including:

• Provide technical and financial support to civil society organizations for better awareness-raising and training of the population on the use of chemicals and sound management of hazardous waste derived from the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• Promote transparent management policies aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19, i.e. the quantity of bottles of hand sanitizers, protective gloves, face masks, etc. must be known in order to optimize their collection after use by the accredited structures.

This report relates to Sustainable Development Goals 3, 6 and 12.

Special thanks to IPEN's Francophone Africa Regional Coordinator Achille Ngakeng and IPEN's FA Regional Hub CREPD for their important contributions to the development and finalization of the project.