United
Nations chief António Guterres and senior members of the UN, have
embarked on a three-day visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
where civilians are facing insecurity and ongoing health crises,
including a year-long Ebola epidemic which has claimed more than 2,000
lives.
Mr.
Guterres arrived in the town of Goma, situated in the North Kivu region
of the country which is at the centre of the epidemic, on Saturday.
There, he was received by Leila Zerrougui, his special representative in
the country, and inspected a contingent of UN peacekeepers. The UN
chief thanked them for their service and sacrifice, and for putting
their lives at risk, in often dangerous conditions, to protect
civilians.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations,
who described the high-level visit as an opportunity to reiterate
support for efforts towards peace and stability in the country, joined
Mr. Guterres on the trip. He declared that the entire United Nations
system, including the UN Mission in DRC, MONUSCO, is fully committed to ending the Ebola epidemic.
Civilians in DRC are also dealing with the deadly effects of other
diseases, such as measles and malaria, which both claim more victims
than Ebola, reminded Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the
World Health Organization (WHO).
Mr. Tedros, part of the official UN delegation, said that this is why
investments in a health system based on primary health care are so
important, to address all health needs in a comprehensive way.
Speaking in French to local media on Saturday, Mr. Guterres expressed
his admiration for the resilience of the citizens of DR Congo, and
underlined the solidarity of the United Nations in the fight against
terrorism, not only in Congo, but across the whole continent of Africa,
and the entire world.
UN/Matine Perret
Secretary-General
António Guterres briefing by MONUSCO leadership with SRSG Leila
Zerrougui (Right) and USG Jean-Pierre Lacroix (left) and leadership
Turning to the "terrible situation” of Ebola, and other major health
concerns such as measles, malaria, and cholera, the UN chief promised
that the UN stands “side-by-side with the Congolese authorities and the
people of the country, in order to do our best to meet all of these
challenges.”
During his visit, his first since taking up office as the head of the
UN in January 2017, Mr. Guterres will meet senior government officials,
actors in the DRC peace process, and the civilian, police and military
members of the UN Mission in the country.
Other senior UN officials joining the Secretary-General include the
UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, Michel Kafondo; Matshidiso Moeti,
WHO Regional Director for Africa; Mike Ryan, Executive-Director of the
WHO Health Emergencies Programme; and Ibrahima Socé Fall, WHO Assistant
Director-General of Emergency Response.
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Since the Ebola epidemic struck in the
north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) one year ago,
almost 600 of around 850 children who have caught the virus have now
died, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Friday.
As security has improved in the restive Kasai
region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), some 8,500 refugees
have left the Lóvua settlement in Angola’s north-east Lunda Norte
province in the past week, hoping to cross the border and return home,
according to the UN refugee agency.
Turning to the "terrible situation” of Ebola, and other major health
concerns such as measles, malaria, and cholera, the UN chief promised
that the UN stands “side-by-side with the Congolese authorities and the
people of the country, in order to do our best to meet all of these
challenges.”
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