UN relief team to assess damage left by deadly tornado in western DR of Congo

In the wake of a devastating tornado in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations today dispatched an assessment mission to the region to follow-up on reports of serious damage and loss of life.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the team is on its way to Bandudu province following Government reports that Sunday's deadly tornado killed more than 160 people and left close to 2,000 families homeless.

Together with officials and doctors from the DRC Ministry of Health, OCHA staff are now travelling by boat to the hardest hit areas and will report back tomorrow, when a more detailed assessment of damage and casualties will be provided.