the European Union will establish a humanitarian air bridge to Goma, France promises 34 million euros

Brussels wants to support the populations of the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The European Union announced on Saturday the release of aid of 47 million euros, and the establishment of a humanitarian air bridge to Goma. This region of the African country is plagued by the M23 rebellion.

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The airlift, set up “with the support of France (…) will make it possible to deliver humanitarian aid in the form of medical and food products as well as a series of other emergency products, in collaboration with Unicef ​​and other partners humanitarian”says a press release from the European Commission (in English).

The DRC must “not be a spoil of war”

The aid of 47 million euros, through its humanitarian partners, should make it possible to cover the immediate needs of local populations in terms of food, health care and sanitation facilities in particular. This announcement comes at the time of a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo by Emmanuel Macron, who is trying to obtain a de-escalation in the east of the country.

“We are going to release an immediate contribution of 34 million euros in humanitarian aid, which will be added to the amount (…) announced by the European Union”, said the head of state during a press conference on Saturday. The Democratic Republic of the Congo should not “not be spoils of war”he added.

The President added that he had observed among all the actors in the conflict a “clear support” to a ceasefire “next Tuesday”. The province of North Kivu, in the east of the DRC, is affected by the resurgence of the mainly Tutsi rebellion of the M23 (“Movement of March 23”), which has remained dormant for almost ten years.

Paris’s peace efforts, however, remain contested. The Democratic Republic of Congo criticizes France for not denouncing in a sufficiently clear manner the attitude of Rwanda, considered as an aggressor by Kinshasa. France has “sentenced” Kigali’s support for the M23, at the end of December.