SENDING SUPPLIES TO REPAIR A WAR-TORN STATE: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) descended into civil war in 1998, and even after peace accords were signed in 2003 fighting continued until at least 2007. Of the 5.4 million who died, the majority were victims of diseases such as malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea, or hunger and malnutrition.
Project C.U.R.E. needed a way to get high volumes of medications and hospital supplies such as autoclaves, consumables (gloves, syringes, etc.) and neo-natal incubators into the DRC. Already familiar with JABOR from their partnership in Haiti, they knew they could call on us again. Lori was working on a music tour headed to Africa, so she helped secure additional shipping containers to carry the supplies, and had it added to the cargo that the tour was already moving. When we reached port in the DRC, we handed the containers off to Project C.U.R.E., who ensured that all supplies arrived safely to their intended hospitals.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Background
Our method has been to leverage the pathways already in place for a tour. The non-profit shipment designated for the DRC contained four sea containers with $2 million worth of medical supplies. We already had upwards of 40 containers going to Africa, so adding these 4 versus arranging its own shipment lowered the per container price dramatically. It also simplified the import process, as there was already a dedicated company dealing with the shipment. Most aid shipments cannot afford this service. Lori and Project C.U.R.E. identified the clinics in need in the DRC and the local trucking companies stepped up to move it from port to the clinics.
Partners
Thank you to Live Nation, Project C.U.R.E., Rock-It Cargo, Satellite Office Services, and Sound Moves.