Maiden voyage of riverboat to bring supplies to Northern DRC

01 October 2004

UMCOR has completed rehabilitation of a riverboat owned by United Methodist Church (UMC) in the DRC under a project funded by UMCOR, the United States Agency for International Development's Office of Transition Initiatives and CARE. The boat will be used to transport medical supplies and vital commodities to remote areas of Maniema, Oriental and Eastern Kasai Provinces as well as enabling improved trade to and from these areas.

During the opening ceremony, Marc Maxi, UMCOR's Regional Director for Africa, expressed the desire that the boat be used to bring much needed supplies to isolated communities along the river. The Minister of Transport, Joseph Olenga Nkoy commended UMCOR for a job well done, saying that "the dedication of the boat was a concrete and physical manifestation of UMCOR, fulfilling their promises and commitment to the people of the Congo".

The boat was renamed in honor of Bishop Onema Fama, who will be retiring next year after close to fifty years of service to the UMC and people of the DRC. Bishop Onema expressed the hope that the boat will be seen internationally as a gesture of support for the on-going peace process in the country.

The boat will make its maiden voyage along the Congo River, carrying some medicines, school supplies and other donations to the people of Kindu, in Northern DRC.