DRC: Humanitarian aid shipment bound for Goma takes off from Denmark

The Boeing 767, loaded with 35 tons of humanitarian aid, took off Thursday morning from Denmark and is due to arrive this Friday morning in North Kivu. © RFI/Paulina Zidi

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35 tons of humanitarian aid are due to arrive this Friday morning in Goma in eastern DRC, a region torn apart by violence and the presence of many armed groups including the M23. A conflict that has displaced more than 800,000 people and above all triggered a major humanitarian crisis. It was in response to this dramatic situation that the EU announced the establishment of a humanitarian airlift to the provincial capital. A first load arrived on March 10 and a second plane is scheduled to land this Friday, March 17. Plane in which RFI was able to board.

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With our special correspondent departing from Billund, Paulina Zidi

It is nine o'clock this Thursday on the tarmac of the Danish airport of Billund and the ground teams finish loading the 35 tons of humanitarian aid expected in Goma. Six partners, NGOs and UN agencies, seized the opportunity of this airlift organized by the European Union to send medical equipment, fight against malnutrition or blankets and tents for camps for displaced people.

A load came by truck from the various warehouses whether in Denmark, Belgium or France. An operation estimated at around 400,000 euros and fully supported by the EU humanitarian agency.

For the crew, this is not a first, with the same yellow and red plane nicknamed "the fries", they are the ones who made the first rotation of this airlift last week. "Goma is a bit like home now," jokes the captain as the plane's doors close. A destination that this company specializing in air freight had hitherto rarely served.

After a technical stop in Cairo, Egypt, the Boeing 767 is expected this Friday late morning in Goma.

A Boeing 767 loaded with 35 tons of humanitarian aid took off Thursday, March 16 from Denmark and is scheduled to arrive Friday morning, March 17 in North Kivu, DRC. © RFI/Paulina Zidi

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  • DRC
  • Denmark