Goma, 26 February, 2022 / 6:40 pm (ACI Africa).
The partnership in response to the volcanic eruption that occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Goma town, which borders Rwanda's Rubavu District was successful, officials of the overseas development agency of the Catholic Bishops of Ireland, Trócaire, have said.
In a Wednesday, February 23 report, Trócaire officials attribute the successful response to last year’s volcanic eruption that affected a section of Rwandans to the training the Catholic entity had given to the locals in partnership with the country’s Nyundo Caritas.
“Despite the challenges of implementing a humanitarian response during COVID-19 restrictions, the partnership approach to the response to the volcanic eruption was a success. The cooperation and coordination between local partners and local authorities was key to the Start Fund impact,” Trocaire leadership says.
The volcanic eruption that occurred a few miles from the city of Goma in DRC on the border with Rwanda displaced over 8,000 people who sought refuge in Rwanda’s Rubavu district where thousands had equally been displaced.
According to Trócaire, families were left homeless in four sectors of Rubavu District with roads, schools, water systems, and health centers affected. “Homes, crops, and food stores were destroyed, making food security an immediate and urgent concern,” officials of the Catholic agency say.
