In the Democratic Republic of Congo, over 400 people were killed and entire villages were wiped away after torrential rains on Thursday led rivers to burst their banks in South Kivu province. A head of a local civil society organization said his group is appealing for whatever help they can get, as many people have lost everything.

Martin Ngonyozi: “People are sleeping out in the open. There are schools that have been washed away. We do not know how our students will study. There are hospitals that have been taken away.”

The tragedy comes just days after floods killed at least 136 people in neighboring Rwanda. While visiting the region, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres offered his condolences and said, “This is yet another illustration of accelerating climate change and its disastrous impact on countries that have done nothing to contribute to global warming.” During his talk in Burundi, Guterres also called for a halt to violence in the DRC.

Secretary-General António Guterres: “I renew my call for deescalation, appeasement and restraint of armed groups, whether local or foreign. They must lay down their arms in the DRC.”