The inhabitants of Nyamukubi and Bushushu, in the territory of Kalehe, in South Kivu, suffered the devastating effects of the landslide that took place on May 4th. This natural accident was marked by an official toll of nearly 500 dead and thousands of people missing. Faced with this disastrous situation, unprecedented assistance was provided to the affected populations by the businessman Harish Jagtani, through his HJ foundation. More than 80 tonnes of food and non-food items were mobilized to help the victims of this disaster.
Trucks from Servair, a company owned by Mr. Jagtani, were used to transport the cargo to the port of Goma. Sacks of rice, maize flour, sugar, biscuits, boxes of sardines, as well as non-food items such as generators, toilets and mattresses were flown to Port Muhini Vital, in South Kivu. The HJ Foundation has also mobilized 81 coffins to allow the dignified burial of certain missing compatriots.
A mobile clinic has also been set up and a dozen qualified doctors and nurses have been deployed on site to provide free care to the sick and injured in the tragedy. The people of Kalehe expressed their gratitude to the HJ Foundation for this gesture of solidarity.
This outpouring of generosity from businessman Harish Jagtani and his foundation illustrates the need for strong mobilization to help the disaster-stricken populations of the DRC. This assistance is all the more essential in a country where access to healthcare, food and basic necessities are not always accessible to everyone. Acts of generosity such as this, although isolated, can have a tremendous impact in alleviating misery and meeting the needs of the most vulnerable communities.
The OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains, held in Kinshasa, discussed the importance of a responsible approach to the exploitation of mineral resources in the DRC, and to fight against international mining fraud. These are advances necessary for the economic stability of the country and to guarantee a sustainable exploitation of the natural resources of the DRC.