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Coronavirus global response: EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo
The EU Humanitarian Air Bridge is operating three flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), carrying on board humanitarian workers and essential supplies to help the country tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
The first flight to DRC left yesterday with Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management on board, together with Philippe Goffin, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Defense, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs. In Kinshasa, they met the President of the DRC, H.E. Félix Tshisekedias well as humanitarian organisations and civil society in the capital and in Goma.
Commissioner Lenarčič yesterday said:
“These new EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flights to the DRC bring emergency aid to help those most in need. Defeating coronavirus in the long term means working together, in particular with African nations who are our key partners. We are delivering 40 tons of humanitarian cargo in total on board the three flights to the DRC. It is in our common interest to work in solidarity.”
Commissioner Lenarčič also stated that, in 2020, the EU is supporting the most vulnerable in the DRC with a total of €40.83 million in humanitarian funding.
The cargo of the three EU humanitarian air bridge flights to the DRC includes:
- water purifiers, nutrition support, and general medical supplies;
- other supplies, such as laboratory equipment, masks, gloves and personal protective equipment are also intended to support the coronavirus response in the DRC, complementing efforts by the DRC Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), and in line with the country's COVID-19 Response Plan.
The flights are fully EU funded, and are part of a joint effort between the European Union, Belgium, France, and humanitarian aid organisations, and in cooperation with the DRC authorities.
Since the beginning of May, the EU has organised four other Humanitarian Air Bridge flights – three to the Central African Republic and one to São Tomé e Príncipe. Other flights are in the pipeline, including further flights to Africa, but also to other regions with high humanitarian needs.
Click here for the full press release
