ICRC sends food aid to DRC
2008-11-10 22:19
Geneva - The international Red Cross said on Monday it had distributed food aid to more than 17 000 frightened and exhausted people forced to flee fighting in the Nord-Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"Since November 9 the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been distributing to more than 17 000 displaced people between Nyamilima and Ishasha some 208 tons of food," the agency said in a statement.
The area, which straddles the border with Uganda and lies north-east of the rebel-threatened city of Goma, has seen thousands of men, women and children arrive in recent weeks amid fierce clashes between rebels and government troops.
The ICRC said that, along with support from the national Red Cross society, it is currently the only humanitarian organisation responding to the urgent need for food among the displaced people.
The World Food Programme was last week forced to cut short its food distribution work near the town of Rutshuru in the region "when it found itself in close proximity" to fighting which broke out between a local pro-government militia and rebel forces.
"The people arriving have lost everything, and often have to spend the first few nights in churches or schools," said Ian Byram, the ICRC's relief coordinator in DRC.
"They are completely exhausted after walking several days in search of safety," he added.
The ICRC also said that it had restarted Sunday food aid distribution to about 25 000 people in the Kibati area northeast of Goma after armed clashes forced a suspension last week.
"The security situation in the Rutshuru and Masisi areas of Nord-Kivu, and even in the city of Goma, remains highly unstable and is having an effect on all humanitarian activities over the long term," warned Luc Haas, the ICRC's chief official in Goma.
Fresh clashes on the borders of neighbouring Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu provinces started before dawn on Sunday and prompted thousands more people to flee, the United Nations said.
The fighting in eastern Congo has created a humanitarian catastrophe, with at least 250 000 people forced to flee their homes.