22nd May 2022, Mount Nyiragongo

One year ago today, Mount Nyiragongo, a volcano located in the southern sector of Virunga National Park, erupted for the first time in nearly two decades. The resulting lava flow left a trail of destruction and catastrophic consequences for the people of Goma, a city of nearly 2 million inhabitants, many of whom live in extreme poverty under the shadow of years of conflict and instability.

It is estimated that over 30 people lost their lives in the eruption, while many more lost their homes and livelihoods: several hundreds homes were reduced to ashes and the electricity and drinking water distribution network were destroyed, leaving millions of people without access to safe drinking water and critical infrastructure like hospitals without power.

In the immediate aftermath of the eruption, Virunga National Park mobilised its network and resources to provide life-saving assistance to as many people as possible. Working closely with partners, including La Lucha, Goma Actif and the Uhuru Knowledge Center, we supported the distribution of food and other essentials to some of the most vulnerable, reaching over 1,000 people in desperate need.

Photo credit: Christopher Horsley
Photo credit: Christopher Horsley
Photo credit: Christopher Horsley
Photo credit: Christopher Horsley
Photo credit: Christopher Horsley

Yet, one year on, so much more remains to be done to help those affected rebuild their lives, in many cases their homes, and to overcome the trauma caused by Nyiragongo’s eruption. Despite the widespread pledges of assistance in the days that followed the eruption, many people today remain in temporary and inadequate accommodation. They lack basic resources and face a future full of uncertainty.

Virunga National Park, along with other local actors, is working hard to improve the livelihoods of the people of eastern Congo, one of the most unstable and vulnerable regions in the world, through the Virunga Alliance and the development and sustainable use of the Park’s vast natural resources. But there are many people that remain in immediate and dire need. The same sense of urgency and outpouring of empathy that followed the eruption one year ago must be brought to bear to provide them with safe, secure accommodation and to help them rebuild their lives. They must not be forgotten.

Goma Actif is a local organisation that continues to provide assistance and support to those impacted by the Nyiragongo eruption. Make a donation to support their vital work below.