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| DR Congo refugee camps 'burned' | DR Congo refugee camps 'burned' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UN says it has credible reports that camps sheltering 50,000 displaced people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been torched. | The UN says it has credible reports that camps sheltering 50,000 displaced people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been torched. |
| Aid groups say they are struggling to reach an estimated 250,000 people in the region fleeing fierce fighting between government and rebel forces. | Aid groups say they are struggling to reach an estimated 250,000 people in the region fleeing fierce fighting between government and rebel forces. |
| Intense diplomatic efforts are under way to end the crisis. | Intense diplomatic efforts are under way to end the crisis. |
| French FM Bernard Kouchner and his British counterpart, David Miliband, are preparing to travel to the country. | French FM Bernard Kouchner and his British counterpart, David Miliband, are preparing to travel to the country. |
| A tense ceasefire is holding in and around Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu. | A tense ceasefire is holding in and around Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu. |
| See detailed map of the area | See detailed map of the area |
| Rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. | Rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. |
| The Congolese government has often promised to stop Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so. | The Congolese government has often promised to stop Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so. |
| Gen Nkunda has also objected to government plans for foreign involvement in exploiting the country's vast mineral wealth. | Gen Nkunda has also objected to government plans for foreign involvement in exploiting the country's vast mineral wealth. |
| The Congolese government has refused to negotiate with Gen Nkunda, calling him a terrorist. | The Congolese government has refused to negotiate with Gen Nkunda, calling him a terrorist. |
| 'Extremely unsafe' | 'Extremely unsafe' |
| Speaking in Geneva, aid agency chiefs said the situation in and around the city of Goma remained highly volatile with access to those in need extremely difficult. | Speaking in Geneva, aid agency chiefs said the situation in and around the city of Goma remained highly volatile with access to those in need extremely difficult. |
| The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said there were highly disturbing reports that the camps north of Goma had been forcibly emptied, looted, and burned. | The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said there were highly disturbing reports that the camps north of Goma had been forcibly emptied, looted, and burned. |
| The region is now in rebel control, aid agencies have no access, and no-one knows where the 50,000 residents of the camps are now. | The region is now in rebel control, aid agencies have no access, and no-one knows where the 50,000 residents of the camps are now. |
| Meanwhile, a desperate shortage of food and water in Goma is leading thousands of people who sought refuge there to leave, heading to the village of Kibati, about 12km (7 miles) to the north. | Meanwhile, a desperate shortage of food and water in Goma is leading thousands of people who sought refuge there to leave, heading to the village of Kibati, about 12km (7 miles) to the north. |
| The BBC's Peter Greste in Goma says the road from the city is choked with human misery. Advertisement | The BBC's Peter Greste in Goma says the road from the city is choked with human misery. Advertisement |
| Thousands of people leave Goma | Thousands of people leave Goma |
| For mile after mile, it is full of families bent forward with their lives on their backs: stoves, food, clothes, bedding and children. | For mile after mile, it is full of families bent forward with their lives on their backs: stoves, food, clothes, bedding and children. |
| Aid agencies have all but stopped work because of security fears. | Aid agencies have all but stopped work because of security fears. |
| "The whole population in Goma, and around Goma are feeling extremely unsafe," Red Cross spokesman Marcal Izard told the BBC. | "The whole population in Goma, and around Goma are feeling extremely unsafe," Red Cross spokesman Marcal Izard told the BBC. |
| "They need food, water, shelter and, most of all, protection, [and] some sense of knowing that they will not be attacked, that they will be spared by this new round of clashes." | "They need food, water, shelter and, most of all, protection, [and] some sense of knowing that they will not be attacked, that they will be spared by this new round of clashes." |
| A Congolese aid worker based in Goma, Godefroid Marhenge, told the BBC's Network Africa programme that some displaced people were without water or shelter, and "in desperate need of humanitarian assistance". Exodus as terror spreadsQ&A: DR Congo conflictCountry profile: DR CongoSend us your comments | A Congolese aid worker based in Goma, Godefroid Marhenge, told the BBC's Network Africa programme that some displaced people were without water or shelter, and "in desperate need of humanitarian assistance". Exodus as terror spreadsQ&A: DR Congo conflictCountry profile: DR CongoSend us your comments |
| Oxfam and other leading international aid agencies have withdrawn international staff from the city, where a main hospital as well as numerous businesses and homes have been looted. | |
| Gen Nkunda said on Thursday that he was opening a "humanitarian corridor" for people to return to their homes, and so that aid could reach those trapped between his forces and UN soldiers backing up government troops in the city. | Gen Nkunda said on Thursday that he was opening a "humanitarian corridor" for people to return to their homes, and so that aid could reach those trapped between his forces and UN soldiers backing up government troops in the city. |
| Our correspondent said that instead of an open corridor, he found people hurrying back to Goma. | Our correspondent said that instead of an open corridor, he found people hurrying back to Goma. |
| "Someone has been shooting at us," one breathless woman said. "We can't go any further." | "Someone has been shooting at us," one breathless woman said. "We can't go any further." |
| But those who did reach Kibati told the BBC that they had more chance of getting food in the forests and bushes around the village than inside Goma. | But those who did reach Kibati told the BBC that they had more chance of getting food in the forests and bushes around the village than inside Goma. |
| Aid group Mercy Corps has begun to distribute water to the new arrivals. | Aid group Mercy Corps has begun to distribute water to the new arrivals. |
| Overstretched peacekeepers | Overstretched peacekeepers |
| After several days of fighting, Gen Nkunda declared the ceasefire late on Wednesday, and his Tutsi forces are positioned some 15km (nine miles) from Goma. | After several days of fighting, Gen Nkunda declared the ceasefire late on Wednesday, and his Tutsi forces are positioned some 15km (nine miles) from Goma. |
| However, Gen Nkunda has threatened to take the city unless UN peacekeepers guarantee the ceasefire and security in Goma. | However, Gen Nkunda has threatened to take the city unless UN peacekeepers guarantee the ceasefire and security in Goma. |
| Looting, killings and rapes were reported in the city on Thursday, much of it blamed on retreating Congolese troops. | Looting, killings and rapes were reported in the city on Thursday, much of it blamed on retreating Congolese troops. |
| Meanwhile, intense diplomatic efforts are going in a bid to maintain the ceasefire: | Meanwhile, intense diplomatic efforts are going in a bid to maintain the ceasefire: |
| • The parliament in DR Congo has called on government to negotiate with Gen Nkunda, although President Joseph Kabila has previously refused to do so | • The parliament in DR Congo has called on government to negotiate with Gen Nkunda, although President Joseph Kabila has previously refused to do so |
| • UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he is "deeply concerned" about the situation, and has called on regional leaders to take concrete measures to broker a peace deal | • UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he is "deeply concerned" about the situation, and has called on regional leaders to take concrete measures to broker a peace deal |
| • EU diplomats are meeting in Brussels to discuss whether to send troops to back up UN peacekeepers, after EU envoy Louis Michel met Mr Kabila and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame | • EU diplomats are meeting in Brussels to discuss whether to send troops to back up UN peacekeepers, after EU envoy Louis Michel met Mr Kabila and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame |
| • The EU is also to discuss sending troops to the area to aid the humanitarian effort | • The EU is also to discuss sending troops to the area to aid the humanitarian effort |
| • An African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council is to hold crisis talks at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa | • An African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council is to hold crisis talks at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa |
| • US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer has held talks with Mr Kabila in DR Congo's capital, Kinshasa | • US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer has held talks with Mr Kabila in DR Congo's capital, Kinshasa |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| Are you in Democratic Republic of Congo? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Democratic Republic of Congo? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |