IHC charters humanitarian aid flight to DRC for volcano-hit Goma

June 15, 2021: The International Humanitarian City in Dubai (IHC) has chartered an Emirates flight which left Dubai from Al Maktoum International Airport to Kigali, Rwanda, to deliver aid to volcano-hit Goma in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Vice president and prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, upon request of the humanitarian community, has ordered an aid flight to transport much-needed relief materials to Goma.

Giuseppe Saba, CEO of International Humanitarian City, said, “Thanks to the kind generosity and on-going support of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the International Humanitarian City in Dubai is able to respond rapidly to evolving crises globally and help those most in need. The on-going battle against Covid-19 throughout the world has made these humanitarian efforts and aid flights even more important. The IHC in Dubai, along with its members, and the help of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, will continue to work at pace to serve humanity.”

The 93 metric tonnes of aid contains water purification kits from the WFP’s UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), and Shelter Relief Items & PPE from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), all which are prepositioned in IHC warehouses in Dubai to assist the humanitarian crisis building up in Goma.

Ilir Caushaj, head of IFRC’s global fleet and logistics hub in Dubai, said, “The aid flight is expected to support 20,000 beneficiaries, with a total cost of CHF 233,000.”