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DR of Congo: UN continues aid effort for victims of volcanic eruption

DR of Congo: UN continues aid effort for victims of volcanic eruption

The United Nations today wrapped up an important phase of its relief effort for the victims of a devastating volcanic eruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), general distribution of food aid was scheduled to conclude on Monday, while certain non-food items, such as blankets and soap, will continue to be given out to the residents of the eastern town of Goma for sanitary reasons.

Meanwhile a more formal registration process has taken place to identify the most vulnerable groups for targeted food and non-food distributions due to begin by the end of the week.

In addition, an assessment mission is under way on the island of Idjwi, on Lake Kivu - where some 1,000 people from the Goma region sought refuge following the volcano's eruption on 17 January - as part of a continuing effort to identify persons in need.

OCHA also announced that it would provide financial support to the Goma Observatory to strengthen volcanic and seismic surveillance.

For its part, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC is continuing its support of the relief effort in the region by flying in supplies from Kinshasa to Kigali, where they are then trucked in.