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Agadir – Morocco has supported the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) with more than nine tons of medical supplies and equipment to strengthen the mission’s response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province.
A Moroccan Royal Air Force C-130H aircraft landed at Bunia Airport on June 22 carrying a substantial shipment of medicines, pharmaceutical products, personal protective equipment (PPE), and specialized medical and laboratory equipment, according to a statement from MONUSCO.
The donation is intended to bolster MONUSCO’s operational capacity as the mission continues supporting efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo.
The first shipment includes medical, biomedical, laboratory, diagnostic, disinfection, and patient-monitoring equipment. The supplies will primarily serve MONUSCO personnel, both civilian and military, and strengthen the capabilities of the Level II Hospital operated by the Moroccan contingent within the UN mission.
MONUSCO emphasized that maintaining the health and safety of its personnel is critical to ensuring the continuity of its mandate, particularly the protection of civilians.
“In Ituri, military and civilian personnel work in constant contact with communities, local authorities, humanitarian actors and security forces,” the statement noted, adding that peacekeepers conduct patrols, secure sensitive areas, support medical teams, and facilitate humanitarian aid delivery in affected regions.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, MONUSCO North Sector Commander Major General Saiful Alam Bhuiyan stressed the importance of the Moroccan contribution.
“We are operating at the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak, and our troops continue to carry out their duties despite the epidemic,” he said.
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“This donation will help us continue delivering on our mandate. Better-equipped troops will be able to maintain their engagement with local communities and continue protecting civilians effectively.”
MONUSCO said a second airlift is expected in the coming days to deliver additional supplies and deploy a specialized Moroccan medical team to further enhance the mission’s Ebola response capacity. The deliveries are part of an air bridge established between Morocco and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Congolese authorities welcomed the initiative. René Ngamba of the General Directorate of Civil Protection expressed gratitude to both Morocco and MONUSCO for their support.
As it navigates such a severe and alarming health emergency, Ngamba stressed, “the Congolese Government needs additional partners to support the response effort” through medical supplies, logistical assistance, and aid for affected populations.
