DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Senior UN officials visit camp refugees fled to during recent fighting in eastern Congo
Record ID:
346042
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Senior UN officials visit camp refugees fled to during recent fighting in eastern Congo
- Title: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Senior UN officials visit camp refugees fled to during recent fighting in eastern Congo
- Date: 5th November 2008
- Summary: (BN10) MUGUNGA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (NOVEMBER 4, 2008) (REUTERS) DISPLACED BOY PRETENDING TO HAVE CAMERA IN HAND
- Embargoed: 20th November 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Social Services / Welfare
- Reuters ID: LVA68SWXNBDGPVY1FXPM9VC847UF
- Story Text: The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo met people displaced by recent fighting near the eastern town of Goma on Tuesday (November 4), and said the political gains by either side cannot justify the people's suffering.
Alan Doss visited Mugunga camp, to the west of Goma, accompanied by the UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy.
"The CNDP have to be aware of whatever their political claims are, right or wrong, they are instrumental now in creating this huge vast humanitarian crisis," Doss said at the camp, referring to the rebel force led by Laurent Nkunda.
Displaced people at the camp also said the rebels were responsible for the misery.
"The CNDP can never bring peace, because of the CNDP being present, there is no more peace, everybody has fled from the CNDP fighters," said Innocent Karuru.
They also pleaded with the United Nations to make conditions favourable so that they could leave the camps.
Aid agencies have called the humanitarian situation in the region "catastrophic" and say tens of thousands of civilians are roaming the surrounding countryside unprotected, in need of shelter, food, water and medical care.
France, which holds the rotating EU presidency, suggested last week sending up to 1,500 EU troops to Congo to support the U.N. mission and help deliver humanitarian assistance. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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