Kenya sends aid to families in DRC affected by volcanic eruptions

The Kenya Defence Forces on Tuesday dispatched several shuttles of assorted humanitarian aid to affected families in Goma Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The aid will assist thousands of people displaced in Congo due to the volcanic eruption in May.

The government of Congo reported volcanic eruptions on Mount Nyiragongo, in Goma, which had resulted to the deaths of at least 30 people.

In honouring Kenya’s pledge to offer regional support when need arises, KDF sent aid to the families in a bid to alleviate the humanitarian challenges as a result of displacement. 

The soldiers supplied medicine and dried foodstuff including Meat and Meat products from the Kenya Meat Commission, onions, cabbages, potatoes carrots among others from the KDF Gilgil Food Processing Factory on behalf of the Government of Kenya.

While leading the Contugent, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Eastern Command Major General Ayub Matiiri said the distribution was carried out as a civil-military cooperation initiative and will benefit a lot of affected families.

"This barely comes after the President and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Uhuru Kenyatta visited Congo and signed Cooperation agreements. KDF is taking up the task in  that regard." Maj Gen Matiiri said.

Receiving the donations, Lieutenant General Constant Ndina, General Governor of North Kivu thanked the Government of Kenya for the supplies.

"I sincerely want to thank the leadership of Kenya, especially the President for this kind gesture to the disaster victims at a time that we really needed it the most. This really shows the solidarity between the Kenyan people and the Democratic Republic of Congo," he said.

Speaking on behalf of the President of Congo, Special Advisor to the President Rodger Kamba stated that the humanitarian support demonstrated that the relationship between the two countries is growing stronger.

"This is the first African country to send two aircraft donations loads. On behalf of the President and the people of Congo, we are truly grateful," Kamba said.