Red Cross receives 20 vehicles for Ebola response in DRC
The fleet will support the emergency Ebola response in Bunia, Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Ground handling personnel offload the donated vehicles at Entebbe International Airport on Wednesday evening. (Credit: Julius Luwemba)
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A fleet of 18 brand-new Land Cruiser vehicles arrived in Uganda from Belgium on a chartered flight Wednesday evening, with the donation to Red Cross Congo intended to help in the Ebola response.
Two other vehicles had arrived from Dubai two weeks ago for the same purpose, bringing to 20 the total number of donated vehicles for the cause.
The fleet will support the emergency Ebola response in Bunia, Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The vehicles were donated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to the Congo Red Cross through Uganda.
Nathan Kimani, the IFRC representative in charge of fleet in the African region, noted that the vehicles were received through Entebbe International Airport as the nearest available entry point to Bunia.
He lauded the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) for offering a safe corridor for the donated vehicles en route DRC.
Nathan Kimani (second left), the IFRC Regional Fleet Representative for Africa, and Irene Nakasiita (centre), Director of Communications, Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships at the Uganda Red Cross Society, with other staff inside the cargo plane transporting 18 vehicles destined for the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support the Ebola response. (Credit: Julius Luwemba)
Irene Nakasiita, the director of communications, resource mobilisation and partnerships at URCS, received the donated fleet on behalf of the humanitarian organisation.
She expressed optimism that the donated vehicles will strengthen the capacity towards Ebola response in the eastern DRC.
"We believe that this donation will reinforce such efforts both at the Uganda-DRC border and inside the Ebola-infested areas of DRC."
The vehicles will be driven through the Ntoroko border point to DRC.
Whereas Uganda's eastern neighbour is still grappling with Ebola, there are no new cases announced in Uganda.
Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, continues to grapple with shortages in medicine, safe water, among other necessities.
Over 500 deaths have been reported in DRC as a result of the latest Ebola outbreak which was declared on May 15.
The epicentre of Ebola lies in Ituri, a province already burdened by armed conflict, mass displacement and fragile public services.