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| Aid convoy sets out in DR Congo | Aid convoy sets out in DR Congo |
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| A UN convoy has set off to provide food and medical supplies for 250,000 people displaced by recent fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. | A UN convoy has set off to provide food and medical supplies for 250,000 people displaced by recent fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| It will be the first aid in a week for those stranded in areas controlled by renegade Gen Laurent Nkunda's forces. | It will be the first aid in a week for those stranded in areas controlled by renegade Gen Laurent Nkunda's forces. |
| Visiting the region, the UK and French foreign ministers said urgent action was needed to ease the ongoing crisis. | Visiting the region, the UK and French foreign ministers said urgent action was needed to ease the ongoing crisis. |
| David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner said both the implementation of peace deals and the delivery of aid were key. | David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner said both the implementation of peace deals and the delivery of aid were key. |
| Some quarter of a million people have been forced from their homes in two months of conflict in eastern DR Congo, and aid agencies have been forced to suspend operations in many areas. | Some quarter of a million people have been forced from their homes in two months of conflict in eastern DR Congo, and aid agencies have been forced to suspend operations in many areas. |
| See a detailed map of the area | See a detailed map of the area |
| Gen Nkunda's forces last week routed the Congolese military in areas around Goma, the capital of the restive North Kivu province. | Gen Nkunda's forces last week routed the Congolese military in areas around Goma, the capital of the restive North Kivu province. |
| A fragile ceasefire is now in place, and Gen Nkunda has said he will guarantee "humanitarian corridors" for the convoy through rebel lines. | |
| However, according to AFP news agency, Gen Nkunda also said on Sunday he would drive the government from power unless it agreed to direct talks. | |
| Foraging | Foraging |
| The BBC's Peter Greste, travelling with the convoy, says the road north of Goma is initially choked with people but, as it progresses, the refugees trickle then vanish altogether. | The BBC's Peter Greste, travelling with the convoy, says the road north of Goma is initially choked with people but, as it progresses, the refugees trickle then vanish altogether. |
| The crisis, even if averted in the short term, will return without a new, vigorous and united political effort Bernard Kouchner and David MilibandFrench and British foreign ministers Is the world too slow to help Africa?Q&A: DR Congo conflict | The crisis, even if averted in the short term, will return without a new, vigorous and united political effort Bernard Kouchner and David MilibandFrench and British foreign ministers Is the world too slow to help Africa?Q&A: DR Congo conflict |
| The UN is expected to pass unhindered, he says, but the ceasefire will need to hold and that will depend on African and European diplomatic efforts. | The UN is expected to pass unhindered, he says, but the ceasefire will need to hold and that will depend on African and European diplomatic efforts. |
| Reports of fresh clashes on Sunday night have cast doubts on the truce, our correspondent adds. | Reports of fresh clashes on Sunday night have cast doubts on the truce, our correspondent adds. |
| While as many as 50,000 displaced reached Goma, many others have tried to return to their homes on foot through rebel-held territory. | While as many as 50,000 displaced reached Goma, many others have tried to return to their homes on foot through rebel-held territory. |
| Many displaced Congolese have been reduced to foraging for wild roots and berries in the bush, without safe shelter, water and care. | Many displaced Congolese have been reduced to foraging for wild roots and berries in the bush, without safe shelter, water and care. |
| The recent rebel offensive - exacerbated by a spate of killing, looting and raping by retreating Congolese soldiers - has created what aid agencies have termed a "humanitarian catastrophe". | The recent rebel offensive - exacerbated by a spate of killing, looting and raping by retreating Congolese soldiers - has created what aid agencies have termed a "humanitarian catastrophe". |
| The aid convoy - which had initially been scheduled to leave on Sunday - includes staff and resources from UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs and is being escorted by UN troops. | The aid convoy - which had initially been scheduled to leave on Sunday - includes staff and resources from UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs and is being escorted by UN troops. |
| It will visit places such Rutshuru - 90km (55 miles) north of Goma - where the UN said camps sheltering 50,000 refugees were last week forcibly emptied, looted and razed. | It will visit places such Rutshuru - 90km (55 miles) north of Goma - where the UN said camps sheltering 50,000 refugees were last week forcibly emptied, looted and razed. |
| Regional summit | Regional summit |
| In a weekend of shuttle diplomacy, the European foreign ministers met both Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali and Congolese President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa. | In a weekend of shuttle diplomacy, the European foreign ministers met both Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali and Congolese President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa. |
| They said bilateral peace agreements already in place between regional powers must be honoured. | They said bilateral peace agreements already in place between regional powers must be honoured. |
| Eyewitness accountsCrisis bites for refugees | Eyewitness accountsCrisis bites for refugees |
| The envoys also held talks with African Union officials in the Tanzanian capital Dar-es-Salaam, aimed at drawing up a blueprint for regional peace talks. | The envoys also held talks with African Union officials in the Tanzanian capital Dar-es-Salaam, aimed at drawing up a blueprint for regional peace talks. |
| The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, but both countries' presidents have agreed to attend a regional summit on the situation. | The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, but both countries' presidents have agreed to attend a regional summit on the situation. |
| After visiting camps for displaced people around Goma, Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner said establishing an aid corridor to Goma was a top priority. | After visiting camps for displaced people around Goma, Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner said establishing an aid corridor to Goma was a top priority. |
| They also called for the strengthening of the 17,000-strong UN force in DR Congo (Monuc), but appeared to rule out sending EU forces. | They also called for the strengthening of the 17,000-strong UN force in DR Congo (Monuc), but appeared to rule out sending EU forces. |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the international community must "not allow Congo to become another Rwanda". | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the international community must "not allow Congo to become another Rwanda". |
| In 1994, 800,000 people died in Rwanda's genocide, which is seen as the origin of the current conflict across the border. | In 1994, 800,000 people died in Rwanda's genocide, which is seen as the origin of the current conflict across the border. |
| Gen 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 genocide. | Gen 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 genocide. |
| There have been accusations of collusion between DR Congo's army and Hutu guerrillas. | There have been accusations of collusion between DR Congo's army and Hutu guerrillas. |
| The Congolese government, for its part, has accused Rwanda of backing Gen Nkunda. | The Congolese government, for its part, has accused Rwanda of backing Gen Nkunda. |
| Rwanda denies this, but it has twice invaded its much larger neighbour in recent years. | Rwanda denies this, but it has twice invaded its much larger neighbour in recent years. |
| Return to top | Return to top |