In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jean-Michel SamaLukonde left Goma on Monday, June 7, after a three-day mission in the region. With a dozen ministers, the head of the Congolese government met with experts from the Goma Volcanological Observatory, humanitarian workers and disaster victims. At the end of his assignment, he announced a series of decisions.
With our special correspondent in Goma, Patient Ligodi
“After the collected scientific data, the future can be seen with less uncertainty,” Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde said during a press conference on Monday.
The head of the Congolese government has decided that the displaced will gradually return. Unlike the day the city was evacuated, the government provided buses for the displaced to transport them to Goma in full safety.
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Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde also announced that the site destroyed by the lava flow will no longer be occupied by the population. The inhabitants will be installed in temporary places.
On Monday night, not everything is ready to receive the approximately 4,000 returnees, some of whom have seen their homes destroyed. These people are taken in by host families and friends. According to the Prime Minister, the risk areas will eventually be used for leisure activities.
“Studies are underway to reconsider the city in the light of the lessons learned from this new eruption of Nyiragongo,” added Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, who also announced that the degassing of Lake Kivu began in the next few days.
Regarding the monitoring of the Nyiragongo volcano, Sama Lukonde realized some problems in the organization of the Goma Volcanological Observatory (OVG). He promised to get involved personally. “Nothing will ever be as it was before. Judge me in time,” he said.
At government level, we have estimated an initial need of around 16 billion Congolese francs, that is, $ 8 million, to cover urgent food needs, to cover drug needs and not to mention humanitarian aid.
Jean-Michel Sama, Congolese Prime Minister, in Goma.
► Read also: DRC: Nyiragongo, a fascinating and dangerous volcano
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