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East DR Congo faces 'catastrophic humanitarian crisis' | East DR Congo faces 'catastrophic humanitarian crisis' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo faces a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, an aid agency has warned ahead of a regional summit in Uganda. | The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo faces a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, an aid agency has warned ahead of a regional summit in Uganda. |
The Oxfam charity said millions of people were now at the mercy of militias, with a sharp increase in killings, rapes and looting. | The Oxfam charity said millions of people were now at the mercy of militias, with a sharp increase in killings, rapes and looting. |
It said the focus on dealing with rebels had diverted the security forces from other vulnerable areas. | It said the focus on dealing with rebels had diverted the security forces from other vulnerable areas. |
The UN says the conflict has forced about 250,000 people from their homes. | |
The UN and the DR Congo government are accusing neighbouring Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group - a charge denied by Kigali. | The UN and the DR Congo government are accusing neighbouring Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group - a charge denied by Kigali. |
On Tuesday, DR Congo President Joseph Kabila, and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame are expected to discuss the conflict at the regional summit near Uganda's capital Kampala. | |
They have already agreed to set up a "neutral force" along the border to deal with the M23 and the Rwandan FDLR rebel group which also operates in the area. | |
Cholera warning | Cholera warning |
Oxfam warned that there was a "terrifying absence" of state authority and security in vast swathes of eastern DR Congo. | Oxfam warned that there was a "terrifying absence" of state authority and security in vast swathes of eastern DR Congo. |
The British-based charity described the situation as chaotic, saying that its local partners in the area reported a steep rise in forced recruitment of children, killing, rape and extortion which were going "virtually unnoticed". | The British-based charity described the situation as chaotic, saying that its local partners in the area reported a steep rise in forced recruitment of children, killing, rape and extortion which were going "virtually unnoticed". |
It stressed that the humanitarian consequences were huge - with cholera a real risk and the insecurity making it extremely difficult to deliver aid. | It stressed that the humanitarian consequences were huge - with cholera a real risk and the insecurity making it extremely difficult to deliver aid. |
The charity called for protection of civilians to be put at the top of the agenda of the summit in Uganda. | The charity called for protection of civilians to be put at the top of the agenda of the summit in Uganda. |
The rebellion in eastern DR Congo is led by renegade general Bosco Ntaganda, who is accused by the UN of receiving military backing from Rwanda. | The rebellion in eastern DR Congo is led by renegade general Bosco Ntaganda, who is accused by the UN of receiving military backing from Rwanda. |
He belongs to the Tutsi ethnic group like the top leadership in Rwanda, which fears the presence of rival Hutu militias in eastern DR Congo. | He belongs to the Tutsi ethnic group like the top leadership in Rwanda, which fears the presence of rival Hutu militias in eastern DR Congo. |
Eastern DR Congo has been plagued by fighting since 1994, when more than a million ethnic Hutus crossed the border into DR Congo following the Rwandan genocide. | Eastern DR Congo has been plagued by fighting since 1994, when more than a million ethnic Hutus crossed the border into DR Congo following the Rwandan genocide. |
Rwanda has since twice invaded its much larger neighbour, saying it was trying to take action against Hutu rebels based in DR Congo, such as the FDLR. |