35 tonnes of humanitarian aid are due to arrive this Friday morning in Goma in eastern DRC, a region torn by violence and the presence of numerous armed groups including the M23. A conflict that has displaced more than 800,000 people and above all triggered a major humanitarian crisis. It was in response to this dramatic situation that the EU announced the establishment of a humanitarian airlift in the direction of the provincial capital. A first load arrived on March 10 and a second plane is due to land on Friday March 17. Plane in which RFI was able to board.
With our special correspondent from Billund, Paulina Zidi
It’s nine o’clock this Thursday on the tarmac of Denmark’s Billund airport and the ground teams are finishing loading the 35 tonnes of humanitarian aid expected in Goma. Six partners, NGOs and UN agencies, seized the opportunity of this airlift organized by the European Union to send medical equipment, to fight against malnutrition or even blankets and tents for the camps for the displaced.
A load coming by truck from the various warehouses whether in Denmark, Belgium or France. An operation estimated at around 400,000 euros and fully supported by the EU humanitarian agency.
For the crew, this is not a first, with this same yellow and red plane nicknamed “the fry”, they were the ones who made the first rotation of this airlift last week. ” Goma is a bit like home now jokes the captain as the doors of the plane close. A destination that this company specializing in air freight had hitherto rarely served.
After a technical stopover in Cairo, Egypt, the Boeing 767 is expected this Friday at the end of the morning in Goma.
