Minister Power announces emergency humanitarian aid shipment to the Democratic Republic of Congo – 6,000 families to benefit

The Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power TD, today announced the successful arrival of an airlift of emergency assistance to people displaced by ongoing violence in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The shipment arrived by air to Kigali, Rwanda and was transported by road to Goma, DRC, where it is now being distributed. It consists of stocks drawn from Irish Aid, the UN World Food Programme and the non-governmental organisation, World Vision International. The Irish Aid stocks include 18,000 blankets and 600 rolls of plastic sheeting which is used to make temporary shelter for those displaced.
Commenting on the arrival of the shipment, the Minister said:

“The situation of people displaced by the fighting in Eastern Congo is of deep concern and this shipment was organised under the Government’s Rapid Response Initiative. The cargo of blankets and plastic sheeting has been allocated to the Irish NGO, Concern, to support the excellent work they are doing among displaced people. It will provide much needed warmth and shelter to 6,000 vulnerable families.”

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Press Office
9 December 2008

Note to the editors:

Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative provides emergency stocks of essential non-food items such as blankets, tents, plastic sheeting, jerry cans, kitchen sets, etc. These supplies are currently pre-positioned at the UN’s humanitarian response base in Brindisi, Italy.

Under the Initiative, a reserve of volunteer experts – the Rapid Response Corps – also stands ready to deploy at short notice to international humanitarian emergencies. A member of the Corps is currently working in the DRC with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and is coordinating the massive logistics effort required to mount a response to the crisis.   

Since August 2008, 500,000 people have been displaced in DRC as a result of fighting between Government and rebel forces. The vast majority of these are internally displaced within the North Kivu and Province Orientale regions in the east of DRC.  Approximately 32,000 refugees have also fled across borders into Uganda and Sudan, giving the crisis a regional dimension. Sporadic outbreaks of violence continue which is causing new displacement. Security concerns are hindering the humanitarian response effort.