The World Food Program (WFP) said on Tuesday it is stepping up food distributions in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with plans to reach nearly 100,000 displaced people around the city of Goma and in territory further north, which is controlled by rebel leader Laurent Nkunda.
The agency said it has started distributions of a 20-day ration to over 56,000 people in the three camps of Mugunga 1, Mugunga 2 and Bulengo, which are situated around Goma. Distributions in another three camps in the area will follow afterwards.
"Distributions will get underway, on Tuesday, to 25,000 displaced in Kitchanga and 11,000 in Kilolirwe. Both of these camps are situated in the Masisi region, northwest of Goma, which is under the control of (rebel leader) Laurent Nkunda," the statement said.
WFP said the latest food distributions are in addition to rations that were delivered to all six camps around Goma earlier this month.
"The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is due to start distributions of WFP food in Sake and Minova, on Tuesday, to some 50,000 displaced people. Distributions to 93,000 displaced people and host families in Rutshuru and Kiwanja are due to finish on Wednesday," WFP said.
Since the beginning of November, WFP Goma has received 3,157 tons of a total 5,783 tons already dispatched through various corridors, by truck and barge, an equivalent to over 100 large truck loads already received in November alone.
A further 800 tons of food are being transported at regular intervals to nutrition centers across the region where people havebeen displaced by conflicts.
The security situation is still fluid and the continuation of all food distributions depends on the provision of escorts by the UN peacekeeping force MONUC.
"The WFP is extremely concerned for the many thousands of people it has been unable to reach due to fighting. Reports of new clashes around Rwindi and Kanyabayonga -- over 100 km north of Goma -- are extremely worrying, given the difficulty of accessing the area," it said.
Even in places that the WFP is able to access, the heavy downpours of the rainy season and the rudimentary road infrastructure are making it extremely challenging for humanitarian convoys to reach their destinations.
Source: Xinhua
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