The European Union, as part of its humanitarian efforts, recently launched an airlift operation to the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aimed at delivering essential supplies to the city of Goma. This initiative aims to strengthen the humanitarian response in a region where the situation is already dire and constantly deteriorating.
According to a statement from the European Commission, more than 180 tons of material, including medical and food supplies, will be transported through two flights between Europe and Nairobi, before being transported to Goma. These flights, which began on August 22, 2023, will continue until the end of August, with a total of eight flights planned.
The urgency of this humanitarian operation is justified by the serious humanitarian crisis in the DRC. The country has over 6.2 million internally displaced people, making it the highest figure in Africa. In addition, more than a million Congolese refugees have found refuge in neighboring countries, while more than half a million refugees from neighboring countries have settled in the DRC. The security situation in the east of the country has led to a massive influx of displaced people in 2022, with more than 1.1 million civilians seeking refuge in precarious conditions.
This alarming humanitarian situation is exacerbated by violence and insecurity in the region, as well as recurrent outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, measles and Ebola. The weak health system and insufficient basic infrastructure only aggravate the situation.
Faced with this crisis, the European Union is striving to help vulnerable populations in eastern DRC by providing food assistance, shelter, emergency health care and ensuring that affected children by the crisis can access education. However, the protection of civilian populations remains a major challenge, with numerous violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by armed actors in the conflict.
In conclusion, the European Union’s humanitarian airlift operation to Goma in the DRC is vital to meet the urgent humanitarian needs in this region in crisis. However, it is important to emphasize that sustainable measures and long-term solutions are needed to address the root causes of this crisis and bring stability to the region