Concern has allocated an initial €100,000
to aid those affected by the eruption of the Nyiragongo Volcano near Goma,
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Initial reports from the area suggest
that the eruption may have affected up to 400,000 people, destroying homes
and forcing people to flee. Many have fled west, further into DR Congo,
while others have moved towards the country's border with Rwanda.
It is reported that the eruption has destroyed at least 14 villages in the area around Goma and may have claimed up to 50 lives.
Concern's immediate priority will be to dispatch an assessment team to the area, which will be headed by Regional Director Paul O'Brien, currently in the region.
It is likely that Concern will focus on the provision of shelter and access to safe water for those affected, and will work with specialist medical NGOs on these issues.
In previous emergencies in the area, the lack of safe water proved to be a major problem, resulting in several serious cholera outbreaks. It is likely that the eruption will have contaminated much of the water supply around Goma.
"The eruption will compound the problems already faced by many in the DR Congo, one of the world's poorest countries and will potentially have serious medium and longer-term consequences." Aid Concern Chief Executive Tom Arnold.
Less than 30 percent of the DRC's population has access to basic health care and the average life expectancy is 50 years of age. Concern has been operative in the DRC since 1994.
DR Congo was until recently been at the centre of a conflict involving up to six neighbouring states. An estimated two million civilians lost their lives during the war.
In recent months, Concern has deployed additional staff in the DRC in preparation for a major expansion of our work in the country.
Macdara Doyle, Concern Communications Unit (Dublin): 00 3531 417 7722
Concern (headquarters): Dublin - 00 3531 417 7700; Belfast: - 0044 28 9033 1100; London: - 00 44 20 773 81 033; Glasgow: - 00 44 141 221 3610; New York: - 001 212 557 8000
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Concern Communications Unit
tel: 417 7730
mobile: 087 917 4171
macdara.doyle@concern.ie
www.concern.net