World Vision staff victims of attack on humanitarian convoy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Updated Statement: Sept. 23, 2020
Following an attack on a World Vision convoy travelling in the Lubero territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on September 16, a World Vision staff member was tragically killed. Two other staff members were captured, but then released some hours later and another staff member was badly injured.
World Vision is deeply saddened and shocked following the death of Mathieu Musharhamina Chengangu, 43, who worked for World Vision in DRC since September 2019. He leaves behind a wife and 5 Children. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues who are mourning this tragic and brutal loss.
The staff member who was seriously injured has been evacuated and is now receiving treatment in Goma.
The two staff members that were captured and assumed kidnapped, were thankfully released following pressure exerted on their captors, by the local community.
Other staff who underwent and thankfully survived the attack have also been safely evacuated, and are receiving support. The evacuations were possible thanks to the support of WFP via the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS).
This devastating incident is an attack on our staff, and on the most vulnerable children and communities whom they were serving.
ENDS.
For further information or to organise and interview please contact:
Geoffrey Kalebbo Denye | DRC- Sustained Humanitarian Response Communications Specialist | World Vision International Phone: +243974586286 | Mobile: +254721650105| Email: geoffrey_denye@wvi.org
Jennifer Watson | Director of Communications Director of East and Southern Africa | World Vision International | jennifer_watson@wvi.org | (mob. +254 780 554 394)
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice.
World Vision has been working in the DRC since 1984. We strengthen systems for child protection at the local level, and we are increasingly partnering with other agencies, especially faith-based ones, with a broad reach across 13 of the DRC's 26 provinces. We have been working at local, national and international levels to mobilise stakeholders to tackle the root causes of child abuse, labour and trafficking and sexual exploitation. Challenges to the work include: insecurity, under-funding, community mistrust, scale of affected region, pre-existing needs and gaps in service provision.
World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.wvi.org or follow us on Twitter @WorldVision
Initial Statement: Sept. 16, 2020
World Vision is distressed to receive reports of a staff member’s death in an attack by unidentified armed actors on a humanitarian convoy today.
Staff from World Vision were among relief workers in the convoy which was returning from a mission to take food to vulnerable Congolese people south of Lubero territory in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
World Vision is confirming the fatality, and verifying reports of one person seriously injured. We are contacting families of the affected staff and making efforts to contact the survivors. Emergency means will be used tomorrow to move the injured staff member by air for medical treatment.
This devastating incident is an attack on our staff, and on the most vulnerable children and communities whom they were serving.