Following the severe flooding in Kinshasa in December 2022, which left more than 120 people dead and tens of thousands affected, international mechanisms were activated to support the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team was deployed to assist with rapid assessments and coordination of the humanitarian response in a highly complex urban environment.
To reinforce the operational capacity of the UNDAC mission, support was mobilised through the International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP), focusing on enabling core coordination functions in the field.
Deployment of IHP Expert from Luxembourg
Within this framework, Luxembourg deployed an expert from the Humanitarian Intervention Team (HIT) of the CGDIS to support the UNDAC operation with logistics and ICT capabilities. The deployment aimed to ensure that the UNDAC team could operate efficiently despite constrained infrastructure, disrupted access, and challenging field conditions.
The expert worked in close collaboration with UNDAC members, national authorities, and humanitarian partners, providing essential operational backbone support to the mission.
Enabling Field Operations and Coordination
A key contribution of the IHP expert was the organisation and facilitation of field visits to affected areas, including highly impacted communes such as Mont Ngafula. This included:
- Planning and coordinating transport and access to field locations
- Ensuring logistical arrangements for safe and efficient movement
- Supporting communication and information flow between field teams and coordination structures
By managing these operational aspects, the expert enabled UNDAC team members to focus fully on their core mandate, including assessments, analysis, and coordination of the response.
ICT and Operational Support
In addition to logistics, the expert contributed to establishing and maintaining basic ICT and communication functions, ensuring that the team could:
- Maintain reliable communication with partners and headquarters
- Share assessment data and situational updates
- Support coordination meetings and reporting processes
In a context where infrastructure was strained and connectivity limited, these functions were critical to maintaining an effective and coherent response.
Strengthening the Effectiveness of the UNDAC Mission
The IHP support played a key role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the UNDAC deployment. By handling logistical arrangements and technical support, the expert helped create an environment in which coordination, decision‑making, and planning could be carried out efficiently.
