What You Need to Know
The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Haji Labib, has commenced a tour in the Great Lakes region, starting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mission aims to assess the deteriorating humanitarian situation and enhance aid access for civilians affected by conflict, particularly in areas controlled by armed groups.
Africa-Press. The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Haji Labib, has begun her tour in the Great Lakes region, starting her visit in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This mission, which will last several days, also includes Burundi and Rwanda, aiming to assess the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the region and enhance aid access for civilians affected by conflicts.
The Commissioner arrived in Kinshasa as the first stop of her tour, which comes amid growing international concern regarding restrictions on humanitarian aid access, especially since the takeover of the city of Goma in eastern Congo by the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo/23 March Movement a year ago.
Field workers have reported that violations and ongoing fighting have significantly limited humanitarian organizations’ ability to reach those in need.
Labib shares these concerns, emphasizing the need to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches all areas fully and unconditionally, including those controlled by armed groups.
In a statement to the Belgian news agency Belga, she said, “I intend to meet with all parties to the conflict,” explaining that the goal is to secure safe humanitarian corridors to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of thousands of civilians affected by the conflict.
Sources indicate that this message will be central to the Commissioner’s meetings over the coming days with authorities and officials in the countries included in the tour, as part of European efforts to enhance its humanitarian and diplomatic presence in the region.
After concluding her program in Kinshasa, the European Commissioner will head to Burundi, where she will visit the Busoma refugee camp, which houses thousands of Congolese refugees, most of whom are from the South Kivu region.
Refugees there are suffering from dire humanitarian conditions characterized by severe shortages of water and food, with many families lacking basic shelter essentials like tents.
The tour is scheduled to conclude on Friday with an official visit to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, where additional meetings will be held regarding the regional situation and ways to improve humanitarian responses in areas of tension.
The Great Lakes region has faced ongoing humanitarian crises due to prolonged conflicts, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The rise of armed groups has severely restricted humanitarian access, leading to increased suffering among civilians. International concern has grown over the need for unimpeded humanitarian assistance in these areas, prompting visits from officials to address these challenges.
In recent years, the situation has worsened, with reports of escalating violence and displacement. The EU’s involvement reflects a broader commitment to addressing humanitarian needs and ensuring that aid reaches those most affected by the ongoing conflicts in the region.
