Mbandaka, 14 July 2010 – Within the framework of its Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) programme, the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) recently inaugurated a press centre equipped with modern working aids, in the town of Gbadolite. The project, worth 9,120 UD dollars, aims to provide decent working conditions for media professionals in this part of Equateur province.

The centre, called "Press Centre for North Ubangi Civil Society", was inaugurated in Gbadolite by MONUSCO on 12 July.

Entirely financed by MONUC – now MONUSCO- within the framework of the Mission's Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) programme, this press centre is destined for media professionals of the district of North Ubangi. The equipment offered include two desktop computers, two high-performance, colour photocopiers, two video cameras, two photo cameras, 18 audio recorders, together with electric inverters and power stabilizers, office chairs, cabinets and desks, as well as an amount of consumables.

The president of the North Ubangi civil society, the press centre's manager, highly praised MONUSCO for bring its support to peace and to civilian populations, through projects whose impact on the daily life for populations, he said, is visible. He also lauded the excellent cooperation between the United Nations and civil society.

The head of MONUSCO's Equateur office, M. Ould Mohamed Elhacen, pointed out that "the task of strengthening the rule of law and democracy was almost impossible without a professional press corps, equipped with adequate resources and adequate training for journalists". That is why the UN Mission was providing this support to enable media professionals in North Ubangi to properly carry out their mission.

Echoing the same message as she thanked MONUSCO, the provincial Minister of Communications, Ms Rebecca Ebale Nguma, noted that "a press corps without the necessary resources is somewhat is somewhat like a soldier sent into a battlefield without his weapon."

This is not the first time the United Nations Mission in the DRC was helping local media in Equateur. Two community radio stations were established in the Djolu region, district of Tshuapa and in the region of Yakoma, district of North Ubangi. A press centre was set up in Mbandaka, the provincial capital, in 2005. A series of capacity-building workshops were organised for journalists in Gemena, Mbandaka and Yakoma, and, for North Ubangi, another such workshop is scheduled to be held in Gbadolite at the end of this month. In addition, MONUC's support included reporting equipment donations made to different local radio stations in Mbandaka, Gemena and Lisala.