To my dear brothers and sisters, inhabitants of Goma,
While the province of North Kivu mourns its dead almost daily, victims of recurrent massacres in Beni, here is a part of Goma, the province’s capital, suffering the devastation of an eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano.
The toll is heavy: dead, injured, missing, displaced, children separated from their families, and hundreds of homes and property burned to the ground.
In the face of this disaster and further grief in the region, and as earthquakes continue to terrorize the city’s residents, be assured of our support, compassion, and prayers.
I express my condolences to the families affected and my solidarity with the injured and those left homeless. I salute the bravery of the many who rescued those affected.
In these times of hardship and uncertainty, let us stand together and be confident in the future.
With all of our hearts.
Denis Mukwege