Posted on 01/24/2002 10:51:12 AM PST by t-shirt
UN finally agrees to feed Goma's starving people
James Astill in Goma
Wednesday January 23, 2002
The Guardian
The United Nations finally announced plans to feed the destitute people of Goma yesterday, almost a week after a river of molten lava swept through the town from the erupting Mount Nyiragongo.
Declaring the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern capital safe - three days after virtually all its 350,000 residents returned - UN officials said food would be handed out today.
But the continuing danger of earthquakes was highlighted when the World Food Programme's headquarters at Gisenyi, a mile from Goma, was cracked from top to bottom last night.
The UN announcement followed fierce criticism from aid agencies of its handling of the disaster caused by last Thursday's eruption. It refused to deliver aid to the town until an expert arrived to give the all-clear, despite having large stockpiles there.
"It is quite unbelievable that the UN has all this food and hasn't given anything out," Aloys Tegera, a development scientist in Goma, said. "It is more concerned about covering its back than protecting people in really terrible need."
Laura Melo of the World Food Programme confirmed that the UN agency had 1,000 tonnes of maize, pulses and oil stored in one of the few buildings in Goma untouched by lava and looters. "But we were too concerned about the safety issue," she said.
Patrick Nicholson of Cafod, the Catholic agency which is coordinating the distribution, said the desperate need for food should have overriden fears about safety.
"A one-off emergency distribution would have been a recognition of the realities here," he said.
Arriving in Goma late on Monday, Jacques Durieux, a French vulcanologist, said there was no immediate risk of further lava flows into the town. But serious concern about earthquakes remained.
"These are big quakes. They will not cause a catastrophe à la Gujarat. But we cannot rule out a big one," Piero Calvino-Parisetti, head of the UN disaster team, said.
Several people were killed outside Goma early on Monday when a quake destroyed their houses.
Maize and bananas were on sale in Goma's markets yesterday, but people beggared by the eruption had no money. With no real banking system in the town, most of those who lost houses lost everything.
"I am walking because if I sit down I am too hungry," said Jean Mopenzi, who has three children, no job, and now no possessions.
Like the communist have always done te UN runs people off their land,or supports communist and dictatorships that do then disarms them and lets them starve or be murdered. Population control UN style....
Pray for te Victims of the UN nd all the evil it brings forth.
O'Reily had to expose them and raise hell to get any money delivered.
The United Way tricked people by using another name this time for it's September 11th fund.
And remember United Way gives millions to planned parenthood and to China for forced abortions, partial birth aborions, and after birth abortions.
8 posted on 1/24/02 1:08 PM Pacific by First_Salute
For what to see who is the most corrupt ?
The Red Cross may be pretty darn corrupt, but nothing compares to the United Nations when it comes to corruption ---well except maybe Bill Clinton.
Good one Miss American Pie!!!!
I sure wish we could get rid of the UN.
Cross your fingers for me I'll be gone for a few days, I have out of town company on it's way and I just don't want to crack in front of them and hit the floor in FR withdrawals. It's an pretty pitiful sight, hehe
See ya Monday, take care.
How special Wanker. LOL, nothing like a bunch of communist, touchie feelie liberals trying to make a difference in the world.
I have been to Vietnam and until we get OUR MIA's and POW's back I could care less about what anyone does for them.
The UN is communist and do not kid yourself. Just type it into google and read all about it, what it stands for , why it exists, what its VILE agenda is !!!!
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