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| Fears of disease in Congo camps | Fears of disease in Congo camps |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A cholera outbreak is threatening tens of thousands of people who have fled fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo, aid agencies have warned. | A cholera outbreak is threatening tens of thousands of people who have fled fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo, aid agencies have warned. |
| Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says it has seen more than 45 cases around the city of Goma and the number could rise. | Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says it has seen more than 45 cases around the city of Goma and the number could rise. |
| Meanwhile, the UN says fresh fighting has erupted between rebels in an area to the east of the country. | Meanwhile, the UN says fresh fighting has erupted between rebels in an area to the east of the country. |
| It is the first new fighting since African leaders called for a ceasefire during a summit in Nairobi on Friday. | It is the first new fighting since African leaders called for a ceasefire during a summit in Nairobi on Friday. |
| MSF doctor Megan Hunter said people in the Kibati camp, close to Goma were living in "very bad sanitary conditions". | MSF doctor Megan Hunter said people in the Kibati camp, close to Goma were living in "very bad sanitary conditions". |
| See detailed map of the area | See detailed map of the area |
| She said that in the Kibati camp alone, MSF had seen 45 people with suspected cholera since Friday. | She said that in the Kibati camp alone, MSF had seen 45 people with suspected cholera since Friday. |
| "All the risk factors are there for an explosion of a major epidemic," said Ms Hunter. | "All the risk factors are there for an explosion of a major epidemic," said Ms Hunter. |
| There are also fears that the disease could be spread further if increased fighting causes infected people to run away from camps. | There are also fears that the disease could be spread further if increased fighting causes infected people to run away from camps. |
| An estimated 250,000 people have now fled the fighting between rebel forces of Gen Laurent Nkunda and pro-government militias. | An estimated 250,000 people have now fled the fighting between rebel forces of Gen Laurent Nkunda and pro-government militias. |
| Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attacks by Rwandan Hutu rebels, who fled to Congo after the 1994 genocide. | Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attacks by Rwandan Hutu rebels, who fled to Congo after the 1994 genocide. |
| Ceasefire calls | Ceasefire calls |
| The UN mission in the Congo, Monuc, said on Sunday that a new front had opened up in the conflict. | The UN mission in the Congo, Monuc, said on Sunday that a new front had opened up in the conflict. |
| Rwanda's role in conflictCongolese head home despite fearIn pictures: Rebel advance | |
| Fighting was reported near Ngungu, 60km (37 miles) to the west of Goma. | Fighting was reported near Ngungu, 60km (37 miles) to the west of Goma. |
| A UN spokesman said thousands of civilians had fled to a peacekeeping base to escape the fighting but that it was not clear how the clashes had started. | A UN spokesman said thousands of civilians had fled to a peacekeeping base to escape the fighting but that it was not clear how the clashes had started. |
| Previously, fighting had been largely to the north of Goma, where Gen Nkunda halted his advance 10 days ago | Previously, fighting had been largely to the north of Goma, where Gen Nkunda halted his advance 10 days ago |
| Correspondents say the fighting has raised fears that the rebels could be trying to encircle the city. | Correspondents say the fighting has raised fears that the rebels could be trying to encircle the city. |
| African leaders have called for an immediate ceasefire and for UN peacekeepers to get greater powers. | African leaders have called for an immediate ceasefire and for UN peacekeepers to get greater powers. |
| At a summit in Nairobi on Friday, leaders from seven countries said the peacekeepers' mandate should be amended to give them "peace-making" capabilities. | At a summit in Nairobi on Friday, leaders from seven countries said the peacekeepers' mandate should be amended to give them "peace-making" capabilities. |
| They also said rebel groups in the region should be disarmed according to existing agreements and said humanitarian corridors should be set up to help the displaced. | They also said rebel groups in the region should be disarmed according to existing agreements and said humanitarian corridors should be set up to help the displaced. |
| The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has also called for a ceasefire and said it may consider deploying peacekeeping troops. | The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has also called for a ceasefire and said it may consider deploying peacekeeping troops. |
| "SADC will not stand by and witness any destructive acts of violence by any armed groups and if necessary will send peacekeeping forces," the group said in a statement from Johannesburg. | "SADC will not stand by and witness any destructive acts of violence by any armed groups and if necessary will send peacekeeping forces," the group said in a statement from Johannesburg. |
| The UN has 17,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo, making Monuc its largest mission in the world. | The UN has 17,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo, making Monuc its largest mission in the world. |
| But only a few hundred peacekeepers are in the areas affected by the latest violence, and human rights groups have also criticised the UN for failing to prevent the killings. | But only a few hundred peacekeepers are in the areas affected by the latest violence, and human rights groups have also criticised the UN for failing to prevent the killings. |
| The UN has accused both sides of war crimes, following the reported killing of several civilians in the eastern town of Kiwanja this week. | The UN has accused both sides of war crimes, following the reported killing of several civilians in the eastern town of Kiwanja this week. |
| Return to top Are you in DR Congo? Have you or your family been affected by the fighting? Send us your comments using the form below. | Return to top Are you in DR Congo? Have you or your family been affected by the fighting? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |