Belgian Red Cross-Flanders releases 100,000 euros for emergency relief in Congo

Belgian Red Cross-Flanders has released 100,000 euros from its emergency relief fund to provide aid in eastern Congo. In recent days an outbreak of violence has taken place in and around the metropolis of Goma in Congo. This left several dead and hundreds injured. The conflict has been going on for years and in the provinces of North and South Kivu, where the new explosion of violence has been felt for several weeks, the death toll is running into the hundreds.

Didier Van Aert, Head of International Disaster Response Belgian Red Cross-Flanders: "Some 400,000 people are fleeing the violence. The hospitals in Goma are under immense pressure and can barely handle the influx of wounded. We are releasing 100,000 euros from Belgian Red Cross-Flanders to provide support on the ground."

Field support

Belgian Red Cross-Flanders is itself active in the West of DR Congo and Rwanda and closely follows the situation in North and South Kivu from the country. "We actively support the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Congolese Red Cross, which are working on the ground under difficult conditions," said Didier Van Aert. "The humanitarian needs are enormous. Injured people evacuated to medical institutions often come from areas that are difficult to access. Evacuations are done on foot or by motorcycle and sometimes take hours. As a result, injuries from bullets or explosions are often treated late."

emergency relief and family reunification

"The situation is chaotic" he continues. "With the released 100,000 euros, we are supporting relief efforts on the ground. People fleeing are in urgent need of medical support, shelter, potable water and other basic services. The Red Cross is working hard to alleviate humanitarian needs, but the circumstances make this very challenging. The conflict has been going on for years, today we see an explosion of violence. Families who have been in refugee camps for years now have to flee even from there."

In addition to emergency relief , there is also a focus on family reunification. "Many families are separated by the violence. In the first phase, we are trying to establish contact between family members so they are aware of each other's condition and whereabouts," Van Aert said.

Call for protection and financial support

Belgian Red Cross-Flanders is calling for the protection of civilians, health centers and medical personnel to ensure that the affected population has access to essential medical care.

Financial support is most efficient at this stage of the conflict. Belgian Red Cross-Flanders itself is releasing 100,000 euros but this will not be enough, they therefore ask for the wide support of the public and open their account number for donations. Donations are welcome on BE53 0000 0000 5353, with the mention "Congo". Every contribution, big or small, helps to save lives and alleviate the most urgent needs.