Dear friends and supporters of the association Kongo Social-Care e. V.,

I am delighted to announce that the historical fire engine donated to us arrived saftely on Friday, March 23, 2018 in Durba, DR Congo. In agreement and on behalf of Kongo Social-Care e. V., the vehicle was transported on 19 December 2017 to the export port in Antwerp in Belgium and loaded onto the ship on 30 January 2018. The car had a long journey ahead of it. In the first stage, the vehicle was transported across the high seas by a Belgian shipping company from Antwerp to Mombasa (Kenya). After almost a month, the ship "Morning Chorus" finally reached the Kenyan port on February 28th. The second step was to handle the customs formalities - not an easy task in Africa. After overcoming this obstacle, the vehicle was taken over by a Kenyan driver on March 15, 2018. The journey continued from Mombasa to the border between Uganda and DR Congo on March 18th. After 95 days on March 23, both the driver and the vehicle safely reached Durba.

The customs authorities in Kenya determined a value of $ 18,000.00 for the vehicle. This meant for us that we should pay the Congolese customs authorities 4,500 USD pro rata duty. After explaining to the authorities that it was not a purchased vehicle but a donated vehicle, the authorities reduced the instalment to $ 2,000.00.

Thanks also to the support of Mr. Jean-Pierre Masikini, a Congolese trader, we were able to negotiate better with the Congolese authorities. Mr. Masikini transported the vehicle from the Uganda-DR Congo border to the Brauhardt clinic in Durba.

With the help of your donations, we were largely able to cover the expenses of the transfer of the vehicle and to ensure that the fire engine could reach its destination in Congo. The donated vehicle was loaded with clothes, shoes and an emergency generator before departure. We thank all those who collected these aids.

However, there were additional and not yet planned costs for the number plate, the vehicle insurance and the fuel. Mr. Masikini paid in advance and the amount has still to be refunded to him. At the moment we would be grateful for every little donation to cover the additional costs.

In order the vehicle can be used in Durba as an ambulance and good use can made of it, we hired a driver. Mr. Sylva Adroma will be in charge for the transport in the future.

Thank you so much, also on behalf of the Board, once again for your blessed support.

Jean-Bertrand Madragule Badi (P. Badi OP)
Chairman
01.06.2018