Tresor Riziki, award winning musician and UNHCR High Profile Supporter, launched an appeal today to raise critically needed funds to support the people of Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo who have been gravely impacted by the volcanic eruption of Mount Nyiragongo. The appeal is in partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and will support the organisation’s emergency response on the ground.
The sudden volcano Mount Nyiragongo eruption occurred on the evening of Saturday 22 May 2021 causing a river of lava to flow south to the city of Goma, home to two million people and the capital of North Kivu province in the east of the country.
“It was heart-breaking to see videos and images of lava from Mount Nyirangongo’s volcanic eruption seep into villages destroying homes and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. I was born and raised in the city of Goma, a place that has shaped the musician I am today. I am launching this appeal to call upon each one of us to contribute whatever amount we can to give some immediate and urgent relief to families who have lost everything to the volcano eruption,” said Tresor Riziki, UNHCR High Profile Supporter.
Weeks since the eruption, the humanitarian situation on the ground remains severe with concerns of further eruptions and destabilising earthquakes. UNHCR and its partners are responding to the immediate protection and urgent needs of the newly displaced people from the volcano eruption.
“UNHCR is on the ground working with our partners to provide emergency relief to communities gravely impacted by the volcanic eruption, but the needs remain high,” explained Nancy Aburi, UNHCR Chief of Private Sector Partnerships Africa. “This latest emergency in the country is happening against a backdrop of a grave humanitarian situation in North Kivu, where there are already nearly 2.5 million internally-displaced persons. We are grateful for Tresor’s support to help raise critical funds and strongly encourage/call upon members of the private sector, including individuals, companies and foundations to support this appeal for forced displaced communities.”
When speaking to the goal of the appeal, Tresor commented: “My hope is that we can collectively help thousands of families in Goma who have already been through so much. These are resilient and kind people who, with our help, can rebuild their lives after this horrific devastation.”
For more information about the appeal visit: https://donate.unhcr.org/tresor4goma
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