Emergency humanitarian supplies and medical personnel landed on Monday 8 June in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) thanks to the humanitarian air bridge established by the EU as part of its global response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the first flight of a series of three that will carry a total of 40 tonnes of humanitarian cargo into the DRC.
The European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, Philippe Goffin, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, accompanied the first convoy. The programme includes meetings with President Félix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa, as well as with humanitarian and civil society organisations in the capital and in Goma.
Air cargo includes water purifiers, nutritional support and general medical supplies, as well as laboratory equipment, masks, gloves and personal protective equipment, in accordance with the country’s Covid-19 response plan.
These flights are 100% financed by the EU under the Civil Protection Mechanism.
The EU had previously organised three humanitarian flights to the Central African Republic and one to São Tomé and Príncipe (see EUROPE 12488/7). Other flights are being prepared to African countries and vulnerable countries in other regions, the Commission says. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)