The UN World Food Programme said Wednesday it had begun distributing food to 135,000 displaced people in six camps around the rebel-threatened city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. "The 10-day rations will be distributed in all camps at the same time to avoid people criss-crossing the city," the WFP said in a statement.
The agency said it was forced to cut short its work further north near the town of Rutshuru "when it found itself in close proximity" to fighting which broke out Tuesday between a local pro-government militia and rebel forces.
"Camps in this area have been deserted and WFP and other agencies are working to establish what has happened to the inhabitants and what assistance they now require," it said. "This is a dangerous and unstable environment and it's going to be challenging to deliver food to where it is needed most. "We need proper security in place to ensure everyone involved is safe and that we reach the most vulnerable."