Aid ops begin for DRC refugees
2009-11-13 22:20
Brazzaville - Aid operations for 24 000 people who fled conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo have begun in the north of the neighbouring Republic of Congo, a government minister said on Friday.
"We've provided 15 000 tonnes of food, medicines, mosquito nets, tarpaulins and blankets," Minister for Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action Emilienne Raoul told journalists, adding that all UN agencies helped.
The latest count of the refugees put them at about 24 200.
"We hope that the authorities in the DR Congo swiftly find a solution, since you can't leave thousands of people in this situation," Raoul said.
Since the end of October, the Munzaya and Enyele tribes have been fighting over land and fishing rights in the region around Dongou village in the DR Congo's north-western Equateur province, causing villagers to flee.
The first violence between these ethnic groups broke out in March 2009, when almost 200 huts were burned and 1 200 people sought refuge across the border in the north of Congo, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
- SAPA