For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 25, 2002
President Announces Relief Effort for Congo
Statement by the President
On January 17, the people of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo suffered from an enormous natural disaster. Many
homes, shops, roads, and schools were buried, and many lives were lost
or disrupted, by the flow of molten lava from Mount
Nyiragongo. The Congolese people have shown enormous spirit
and resilience, already returning to the land where their homes once
stood to recover and rebuild.
I commend President Kabila of Congo and President Kagame of Rwanda
for working together to address the humanitarian needs of the people of
Goma who have been hurt by this volcanic eruption. The
United States will help the victims of this disaster, and we have
already allocated up to $3 million for relief efforts. I
have sent a team of experts from the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) to the region to assess how this aid can be
directed most effectively. At the same time, I have ordered
the immediate dispatch of two relief flights carrying blankets, shelter
material, and water storage equipment to support the most urgent needs
of the Congolese people. The United States will continue to
work closely with the international community to help those affected by
this disaster to rebuild their town and their lives.
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