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CNN Live At Daybreak

U.N. to Release Food to Volcano Stricken

Aired January 23, 2002 - 06:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And still overseas, the United Nations says it will release food stocks to tens of thousands of people left homeless by that volcano eruption near Goma, Congo. The U.N. had been facing criticism over withholding the supplies.

CNN's Chris Burns reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A tanker brings desperately needed clean water to the thirsty city of Goma, where a river of lava cut off the flow last week. Local Congolese residents are doing their best to help themselves -- the victims of Mount Nyiragongo's eruption. Thousands of families have lost everything to the now frozen lava river.

In contrast to the local initiative, international help is slow in coming; so far, just a trickle, even though the U.N. estimates at least 120,000 people are in serious need. The U.N. hesitated to back the aid effort in Goma, urging refugees to stay put in neighboring Rwanda. Warning them the volcano was still a threat to Goma.

But the refugees ignored the warnings. But after a volcanologist assured the worst is over, the U.N. relented, freeing up 1,000 tons of food, enough for a week. And the U.N. says more is on the way.

The delay frustrated victims and aid organizations who distribute the U.N. food.

PATRICK NICHOLSON, CATHOLIC RELIEF AGENCY: We've got distribution centers -- CAFOD got distribution centers set up on this side of the lava flow. And we've already registered about 10,000 families. So we're ready to go get aid to them and we're just waiting for food and blankets and water to be released.

BURNS: Meanwhile, Goma's economy is showing some signs of life. Some shops have started to open. Others will have it much harder.

MILESH THAKKAR DATCO, BUSINESSMAN: Our house is gone, our store (ph) is gone, our shop is gone. The base where we can start once again, it's all gone.

BURNS: Mount Nyiragongo will leave its mark on some here for the rest of their lives. Among them, Mohima Mongo's (ph) son, to whom she gave birth in a refugee camp. She says she called him Monndulay (ph). It's Swahili for lava flow, or simply volcano.

Chris Burns, CNN, near Mount Nyiragongo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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