First relief flight set for Sunday

The South African government is expected to fly its first consignment of relief aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday to assist victims of the Mount Nyiragongo volcanic eruption.

In addition, according to ministry of foreign affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa, the government would "make a financial contribution to the relevant international organisations co-ordinating relief efforts".

He told IRIN the money would come from the African Renaissance Fund aimed at consolidating democracy, stability, peace and security on the continent. The government was in the process of determining how much it had in the fund and how much it could afford to donate, he said.

Mamoepa said a South African government assessment had established that the people of Goma were in "dire need of food, water, medication, blankets, fire-fighting, evacuation equipment, fuel and transport", and that the government was finalising its contributions.

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, national co-ordinator of Gift of the Givers, told IRIN on Wednesday that the South African relief organisation had used about US $34,000 of its reserve funds to buy 100 mt of maize, 50,000 water purification tablets and medicines to send to Goma on Sunday. He said transport costs would be borne by the government and that the organisation was hoping to raise funds for further assistance.

Mamoepa also said the government was in the process of opening a bank account into which citizens could make financial contributions to relief efforts. "Financial contributions will also be used for the long term relief, rehabilitation and expert assistance during the reconstruction phase of Goma," he said.