MONUSCO fire brigade contains warehouse blaze in Beni

A fire broke out in the Tamende neighborhood of Beni during the night of Tuesday, August 5, into Wednesday. The blaze started in a warehouse containing highly alcoholic beverages, which caused the flames to spread quickly. No casualties were reported during the incident, though the warehouse was completely destroyed and a large amount of stock was lost.

Local Civil Protection teams, volunteers, and residents initially attempted to manage the situation by using sand and water to stop the fire from reaching nearby houses. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) provided critical support to these efforts. The MONUSCO fire engine arrived at the scene in less than twenty minutes, traveling twelve kilometers from Mavivi Airport to downtown Beni.

Jean-Paul Kapitula, the Civil Protection Coordinator for the Beni region, noted that the mission's intervention reinforced and completed the preliminary work done by the community and local services. He described the response from the mission as swift and effective.

This incident is one of fifteen fires recorded in Beni since the start of the year. Because of these recurring events, Kapitula has called on authorities and partners to provide the city with its own fire engine. He emphasized that while MONUSCO has provided significant help, the local Civil Protection service needs its own equipment to respond to emergencies and protect residents.

Kapitula also highlighted the cooperation between MONUSCO and Civil Protection regarding community awareness campaigns. These programs aim to prevent the risky behaviors that frequently lead to fires in the area.