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UK urges help to end DR Congo war UK plays down troops for DR Congo
(about 1 hour later)
British foreign secretary David Miliband has said the Democratic Republic of Congo needs foreign help to prevent further internal conflict. British troops would be sent to boost the peacekeeping force in the DR Congo only as "a last case contingency provision," says minister Bill Rammell.
International co-operation would restore stability and avert "appalling humanitarian consequences", he said. It would be "irresponsible" to rule it out but the immediate priority was ensuring the UN peacekeeping force was working effectively, he told MPs.
He called on the rulers of DR Congo and neighbouring Rwanda to work together to form a "lasting solution" He stressed that the key to resolving violence was political.
Several Tory MPs said more UK troops should not be sent, owing to their commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the Commons earlier Foreign Office minister Mr Rammel was asked how many British troops might be deployed to the region.
'Overriding priority'
He said: "We have made clear that is on the table as a last case contingency provision but were we to consider that, it is certainly not our immediate priority."
He told MPs: "It would be irresponsible to rule out contingencies given a very difficult situation.
"But all of our efforts and all of our statements have made clear that our overriding priority is that Monuc (the UN peacekeeping operation) operates effectively, that it is deployed effectively."
"It really would be intolerable if British armed forces are called on once again, to stretch themselves even further Bernard JenkinConservative MP
Former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind warned him it would be "unwise to create expectations that can't be realised" adding: "The UK, given its other commitments in Afghanistan and elsewhere, is not in a position to make more than a purely symbolic contribution."
And Tory backbencher Bernard Jenkin said: "It really would be intolerable if British armed forces are called on once again, to stretch themselves even further when so few of our European allies are contributing significantly to current operations."
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey said it was right to be "cautious" about promising extra British troops "given the appalling overstretch suffered by our forces in Iraq and elsewhere".
See a detailed map of the area
But he said there was a strong case for Britain and the EU to "offer cash, know-how and logistical support to any reinforcements that African Union countries are prepared to offer."
And he emphasised the need for an economic, as well as political settlement, including "better control of the vast mineral resources that attract and fund these militias".
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced because of the violence in DR Congo's east region.Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced because of the violence in DR Congo's east region.
'Enormous potential' Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats praised Foreign Secretary David Miliband for visiting the African country - he has been on a two-day visit with his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner.
Mr Miliband's comments follow his two-day visit to the African country. An opportunity had arisen to try to resolve differences and prevent fighting in an area of "enormous" potential, he said. Earlier Mr Miliband said the country needed foreign help to prevent further internal conflict and called on the rulers of DR Congo and neighbouring Rwanda to work together to form a "lasting solution"
He had flown to the country with his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner and said he had been struck by how much suffering had been caused by the conflict. 'Under threat'
Both men held talks with the Congolese president, Joseph Kabila, and Rwanda's president Paul Kagama, urging them to use their influence and call and end to the fighting. While insecurity and violence persist... the stability and prosperity of the entire region are under threat David MilibandForeign secretary He and Mr Kouchner held talks with the Congolese president, Joseph Kabila, and Rwanda's president Paul Kagama, urging them to use their influence and call and end to the fighting.
"The conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not just a threat to regional stability but also has appalling human consequences," Mr Miliband said."The conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not just a threat to regional stability but also has appalling human consequences," Mr Miliband said.
He described existing agreements between DR Congo and Rwanda as a "valid approach" to tackling the current problems but added the African Union, United Nations and European Union all had to help restore peace. He described existing agreements between DR Congo and Rwanda as a "valid approach" to tackling the problems but added the African Union, United Nations and European Union all had to help restore peace.
Discussing the geographic and natural resources in the area, and the UK's political and aid contributions, he said: "The potential of the African Great Lakes region is enormous. The UK has invested considerable effort in it." Thousands of people forced to leave their homes are now in Goma
He said: "While insecurity and violence persist in eastern DR Congo, the stability and prosperity of the entire region are under threat.
"The political processes already agreed, and the engagement of the international community, represent an opportunity to resolve them and avert further conflict.
"We must not let it pass."Thousands of people forced to leave their homes are now in Goma
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.
But his forces, which are now believed to be based in the outskirts of the regional capital, Goma, have been accused of looting, rape and murder.But his forces, which are now believed to be based in the outskirts of the regional capital, Goma, have been accused of looting, rape and murder.
The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, but both countries' presidents have agreed to attend a regional summit on the situation in the coming weeks.The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, but both countries' presidents have agreed to attend a regional summit on the situation in the coming weeks.
Charities have estimated that more than 900,000 people have been displaced in the North Kivu province, where the capital Goma is situated, alone. name="text"> class="bodl" href="#infographic">See a detailed map of the area name="top"> Charities have estimated that more than 900,000 people have been displaced in the North Kivu province, where the capital Goma is situated.
Around 55,000 people are believed to have been forced to leave their home in the last week alone.Around 55,000 people are believed to have been forced to leave their home in the last week alone.
The United Nations has estimated that more than 1.6 million people are now displaced across the DR Congo.The United Nations has estimated that more than 1.6 million people are now displaced across the DR Congo.
Preparations to send out 90 tonnes of emergency government aid are now underway and thousands of blankets, plastic sheets, water buckets and water purification tablets expected to arrive in the region later this week. Preparations to send out 90 tonnes of emergency government aid are now under way and thousands of blankets, plastic sheets, water buckets and water purification tablets expected to arrive in the region later this week.
On Monday EU ministers urged for more international action to boost the existing 17,000-strong UN peacekeeping force and secure access for humanitarian aid.
Mr Miliband said that the UK had increased its aid funding to the region by £5m but did not discuss whether British troops would be sent to assist the UN peacekeeping force in the area.Mr Miliband said that the UK had increased its aid funding to the region by £5m but did not discuss whether British troops would be sent to assist the UN peacekeeping force in the area.
UN troops escorted Monday's aid convoy to Rutshuru, a rebel-held town 75km (45 miles) north of Goma. What we're most concerned about though is former child soldiers which we had reintegrated into society are now being re-recruited and taking part in the fighting Save the Children spokesman
It carried medical supplies and water purification tablets, and the UN said food convoys were expected to follow.
Aid workers found refugee camps that had held tens of thousands were virtually empty. Many people are believed to have fled into the forests around the camps, fearing further violence.
On Tuesday Oxfam announced it was doubling its aid effort and is currently attempting to assist about 85,000 displaced people. The charity's staff are also assessing a number of camps near Goma
Oxfam's Rebecca Wynn said around 7,000 displaced people were living in tarpaulin and banana-leaf shelters in the Kibati camp, 4km north of the capital and they were relying on dirty latrines and water pumps.
She said the situation remained tense: "There is a ceasefire, but that ceasefire could break. There's still a real need for other countries to keep piling on the diplomatic pressure."
A spokesman for Save the Children said that its 100 staff in the region plan to help at least an estimated 300,000 displaced people.
He said: "We're issuing household kits including pots and pans and food to families in camps which have taken in unaccompanied children.
"What we're most concerned about, though, is former child soldiers whom we had reintegrated into society are now being re-recruited and taking part in the fighting.
"We've identified at least 30 who have been drawn back into the violence and we're worried about many more."
He said although they had initially evacuated their staff, they had returned to the area by Sunday.
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