Kinshasa, June 13th, 2021 (CPA).- The Head of State Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, staying in Goma in North Kivu, greeted the chain of solidarity which was organized to help the displaced, after the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano in Goma, during a press conference he hosted on Sunday, at his residence in Goma, according to a source close to the Presidency of the Republic.
« After having remotely piloted the management of the natural disaster of May 22, I came to comfort the population of Goma, listen to them and tell them that the State is not forgetting it, » he said.
While thanking the various donors including President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, humanitarian aid workers and other people of good will, President Félix Tshisekedi said he assessed the assistance needs for returnees, the homeless and thus provide them with appropriate solutions.
Persuasive results midway through the state of siege
Regarding the state of siege, the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, in his capacity as supreme commander of the armed forces, welcomed the mid-term results.
« The nuisance capacity of the negative forces has been significantly reduced and we are determined to pursue them to their last entrenchment, » said the President of the Republic.
The Head of State intends to provide additional guidance following the assessment to be made with the two military governors of North Kivu and Ituri.
The President of the Republic has also indicated that he will travel to Ituri for the evaluation of military operations in this province but also, to meet, at the Ugandan-Congolese border of Kasindi, his counterpart Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in as part of the road project to link Kampala and Goma via Kasindi and Rutshuru.
The related agreement has already been signed by the governments of the two countries; all that remains is the launch of the works by the Ugandan government.
« This road will also contribute to the search for and consolidation of peace and the eradication of armed groups, » said President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo.
Asked about the option mentioned by some of relocating the city of Goma, President Félix Tshisekedi said that it is not immediate.
As for the degassing of Lake Kivu, it is a priority of the government.
Presentation of the Grand Inga project
The Head of State Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, on the same occasion, presented Dr Andrew Forrest, Australian entrepreneur and boss of the firm FMG committed to materializing the Grand Inga project.
Presenting his project, Mr. Forrest indicated that Grand Inga will bring new exponential growth for the DRC.
« My commitment to the President of the Republic Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, the DRC and its population is to develop Inga while respecting environmental standards », indicated, Dr Andrew Forrest.
This project will not only create jobs but it will also provide a solution to global warming with green hydrogen produced from water from the Congo River.
Félix Tshisekedi is accompanied on this visit by 9 members of the government including the ministers of health, scientific research and social affairs, humanitarian actions and solidarity.
The Head of State Félix Tshisekedi on a compassionate visit to the victims of Goma
President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, accompanied by his wife, Denise Nyakeru, arrived on Saturday in Goma, capital of the province of North Kivu, for a compassionate visit to the populations victims of the recent eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano and to bring comfort to more than 17,000 people who are now homeless, indicates a source close to the Presidency of the Republic.
According to the source, the Head of State Félix Antoine Tshisekedi intends to supervise the rehousing operations of these people whose houses, around 3,500, were destroyed by the lava flow from the Nyiragongo volcano.
On his arrival, the presidential couple was welcomed by the provincial authorities and several personalities, notables as well as national and local elected representatives of North Kivu.
Since the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano on May 22nd, the President of the Republic has been closely monitoring the organization of humanitarian aid. With his personal involvement and the no less negligible contribution of the Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi Foundation (FDNT), several tons of humanitarian aid have arrived in Goma.
On the instructions of President Félix Tshisekedi, a government team was dispatched, in the aftermath of this natural calamity, with the mission of drawing up a contingency plan and assistance for the affected population.
Composed of 7 ministers, including the Minister of Industry Julien Paluku, of ESU Muhindo Nzangi, that of Defense, Gilbert Kabanda, of Scientific Research, Jose Mpanda and led by the Minister of Health, Doctor Jean -Jacques Mbungani.
This delegation had discussions with the military governor as well as with all stakeholders including the Volcanological Observatory of Goma (OVG) to identify avenues for rapid solutions for the populations.
Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde also paid a visit to reassure and assess the situation after the disaster.
At the head of a government delegation, he provided Government support to the populations affected by the effects of the eruption and the sector ministers each provided emergency solutions in their respective areas of expertise.
Present on the site since the early hours of the natural disaster, the special advisor to the Head of State in charge of universal health coverage, Dr Roger Kamba had received and channeled aid for better distribution.
For now, says the source, the specter of a serious humanitarian crisis seems to have passed and the city has resumed its activities of yesteryear.
After Goma, the Head of State also intends to go to the Far North for security issues, it is informed. ACP/