Impact of volcanic eruption on human rights NGOs in Goma

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International Human Rights Law Group

Assessment Mission to Goma, North Kivu
February 5 -8, 2002

Impact of volcanic eruption on human rights NGOs in Goma

Summary report

Overview

The eruption of Mt. Nyiragongo on January 17, 2002 had dramatically 
different effects on human rights NGOs and other members of civil 
society in Goma.
Some associations were completely devastated while others were 
virtually untouched.
In general, there has been much solidarity and generosity shared 
between the different members of the civil society in North Kivu.

Losses include both professional and personal property.
While some NGO offices may have been untouched, members of several 
NGOs lost homes or had property looted.
Providing assistance to individual members of NGOs will be more 
challenging than replacing office equipment or property.

This brief report on some 12 organizations is likely to be lacking 
information on certain NGOs or actions taken by international 
partners.
It does not intend to be comprehensive, but rather simply to give a 
summary of findings from our recent mission and stimulate good 
communications, transparency, and a coordinated effort between those 
in need and those interested in assisting.

NGO Assessment

1.
PAIF.
PAIF's office was completely destroyed on the 17th.
PAIF lost all office equipment and furniture.

Assistance: The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee has 
graciously responded with a small, flexible grant to PAIF to help 
them replace losses.

2.
GEAD, CRONGD.
Both offices completely destroyed along with most/all equipment.

Assistance: NOVIB sent an assessment to team that according to local 
partners has expressed interest in possible assistance to GEAD, 
CRONGD, and UWAKI

3.
Campaign pour la Paix (CPP).
Offices and equipment untouched.
Houses of some members looted.
CPP is providing office space and support to CRONGD, GEAD, PAIF, and others.
CPP is also very active (along CRONGD, GEAD, ACODRI, GRACE, and 
others) in one of the 4 civil society humanitarian assistance 
platforms, Comite' de Crise de Nyiragongo 2002 (CCN).
(The others are: EPER-BOAD-BEED, Operation Goma-Solidarite', Comite' 
d'Assistance Nyiragongo).

Assistance: Aide Humanitaire Suisse has provided support to CPP/CCN 
to help members operate in the short run and provide humanitarian 
assistance to the population in general.

4.
CREDHO, SYDHO.
Office untouched.

5.
Convergences, ACODRI.
Offices and equipment completely destroyed.
ACODRI vehicle destroyed.

6.
SOPROP.
Office and equipment untouched.
Houses of some members looted.

7.
GRACE: Offices completely destroyed.
Some equipment saved.

8.
ASPD, ASADHO, Grande Vision, GVP, many other NGOs: No offices.
Houses of some members looted.

9.
CADHO: No office.
Usual meeting place destroyed.



Conclusion
This list is certainly not exhaustive but gives a quick picture of 
the situation for NGOs researched during the Law Group mission to 
Goma.
We encourage all actors to provide additional information regarding 
losses or assistance in order to increase the efficiency and 
transparency of efforts to get the human rights community in North 
Kivu back on its feet.







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