UNICEF welcomes South Korea’s support to the volcano emergency response in Goma

GOMA, 23 JUNE 2021 – UNICEF expresses its gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Korea for its contribution of US$ 150,000 to the emergency response following the eruption of the Nyragongo volcano in Goma, eastern DRC on 22 May.

Around 234,000 people were displaced in the days following the eruption, mostly in Sake, Minova and Rutshuru, east of Goma.  More than 3,500 houses, seven schools and four health centers were destroyed in Buhene, Kibati and Kibumba, north-east of Goma, and around 195,000 people were left without access to drinking water.  The eruption caused the death of 32 people including three children, while 40 people were reported missing. 

UNICEF and its partners were among the first responders to the volcano emergency and during the first phase of the response they provided life-saving assistance to freshly displace people. More specifically, UNICEF has:

• Reunited more than 1,250 separated children with their families;
• Provided water to approximately 34,666 people per day through water trucking, and rehabilitated the water system that benefits 130,000 people in the northern neighborhoods of Goma;
• Set up 61 chlorination points and strengthened surveillance, investigation and rapid response activities around suspected cholera cases in Sake, Minova and Goma.

South Korea’s generous contribution will help UNICEF’s work during the second phase of the response, which is currently focusing on the areas affected by the lava, namely Goma, Karisimbi, Nyiragongo and Kirotshe. Here, UNICEF and their partners have:

• Built eight temporary classrooms in three elementary schools that accommodate 840 students whose schools have been destroyed by the lava;  
• Intensified surveillance, investigation and rapid response activities around suspected cholera cases;
• Begun building a 300-meter-long pipeline to serve the local population in Nyiaragongo, and is evaluating the rehabilitation of 25 km water networks in Sake;
• Continued tracing the families of children who are still in transit centers and host families