The members of the Security Council met on 15 June 2021 and received a briefing from the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock on the humanitarian situation in Goma, East of Democratic Republic of the Congo following the volcanic eruption of Mount Nyiragongo on 22nd May, 2021 which caused the displacement of thousands of people, the destruction of many homes and damage to civilian infrastructure.
The members of the Security Council expressed concern at the humanitarian situation, at a time of increased humanitarian needs in the region, fuelled by insecurity and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its health and socioeconomic impact, and called on member States, regional organisations and other international partners to step up their support to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to scale up funding to address the current humanitarian situation. The members of the Security Council also underscored the need to improve disaster risk management to ensure preparedness for future natural disasters in the DRC.
The members of the Security Council called upon all armed groups to cease immediately all forms of violence, in order to enable the safe, unhindered and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance and post-disaster reconstruction.
The members of the Security Council reiterated the need for all actors to fully respect international humanitarian law and human rights.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to the Special Representative of the Secretary General Bintou Keita and to MONUSCO for facilitating, in coordination with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the provision of humanitarian assistance to the affected populations and for their continued efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
