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Congo battle hampers refugee aid | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Aid agencies in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they are struggling to deliver aid to hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced by fighting. | Aid agencies in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they are struggling to deliver aid to hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced by fighting. |
The UN says it is hard to reach 300,000 people in the east who rely on food aid, while 150,000 remain out of reach. | The UN says it is hard to reach 300,000 people in the east who rely on food aid, while 150,000 remain out of reach. |
Battles have resumed between the army and fighters loyal to a renegade general forcing more people to flee. | Battles have resumed between the army and fighters loyal to a renegade general forcing more people to flee. |
The army says some 100 fighters, including 85 rebels, have been killed near Karuba, some 40km from Goma. | |
Colonel Delphin Kahimbi said they had been in control of the town, north-west of Goma, since Tuesday. | |
"The enemy has abandoned 85 bodies on the ground," he told AFP news agency. Sixteen of his own forces also died. | |
Both the army and Gen Laurent Nkunda accuse the other of breaking a recent ceasefire. | Both the army and Gen Laurent Nkunda accuse the other of breaking a recent ceasefire. |
A BBC reporter says women have been arriving at a hospital with severely malnourished children in their arms. | |
Profile: Renegade general Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect DR Congo's Tutsis minority. | Profile: Renegade general Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect DR Congo's Tutsis minority. |
The government has given the rebel general an ultimatum of 15 October to cease hostilities and integrate his forces into the army or face tough action. | The government has given the rebel general an ultimatum of 15 October to cease hostilities and integrate his forces into the army or face tough action. |
But the former commander of UN forces in eastern DR Congo told the BBC that fighting Gen Nkunda and his men is not the solution to the problem. | But the former commander of UN forces in eastern DR Congo told the BBC that fighting Gen Nkunda and his men is not the solution to the problem. |
"If you like it or not Nkunda is a factor in North Kivu and the factor of dealing and addressing the needs and legitimate demands of a minority is something you cannot ignore," Maj Gen Patrick Cammaerte told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "If you like it or not Nkunda is a factor in North Kivu and the factor of dealing and addressing the needs and legitimate demands of a minority is something you cannot ignore," Maj Gen Patrick Cammaerte told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
"Unless the government of the DRC is willing to address the minority problem politically, and taking away doing that, the arguments of Mr Nkunda, there will be no solution." | "Unless the government of the DRC is willing to address the minority problem politically, and taking away doing that, the arguments of Mr Nkunda, there will be no solution." |
The UN has 17,600 peacekeepers in DR Congo - the largest such force in the world, 4,300 of them in North Kivu alone. | The UN has 17,600 peacekeepers in DR Congo - the largest such force in the world, 4,300 of them in North Kivu alone. |
Bullet wounds | Bullet wounds |
The BBC's Arnaud Zajtman in Masisi says the sound of heavy artillery and shelling echoed through the area's green hills on Tuesday. | The BBC's Arnaud Zajtman in Masisi says the sound of heavy artillery and shelling echoed through the area's green hills on Tuesday. |
KEY FORCES IN THE KIVUS FLNK - new group made up mainly of Congolese Mai Mai with some Rwandan Hutus formerly in the FDLRFDLR - Hutu militia made up of former Rwandan soldiers and others who fled into Congo after the 1994 genocideCongolese armyGen Laurent Nkunda, with an estimated 5,000 soldiers Monuc - UN Mission in the DR Congo | KEY FORCES IN THE KIVUS FLNK - new group made up mainly of Congolese Mai Mai with some Rwandan Hutus formerly in the FDLRFDLR - Hutu militia made up of former Rwandan soldiers and others who fled into Congo after the 1994 genocideCongolese armyGen Laurent Nkunda, with an estimated 5,000 soldiers Monuc - UN Mission in the DR Congo |
Government forces and the rebels have been fighting near Karuba for the second day. | Government forces and the rebels have been fighting near Karuba for the second day. |
As a result, armed men with bullet wounds kept arriving at the hospital of Masisi, a small government-held town near a stronghold of Gen Nkunda. | As a result, armed men with bullet wounds kept arriving at the hospital of Masisi, a small government-held town near a stronghold of Gen Nkunda. |
He said some of those injured were members of the regular army, others belonged to the newly created militia groups. | He said some of those injured were members of the regular army, others belonged to the newly created militia groups. |
Some of them were Rwandan Hutu militiamen who it is alleged took part in the genocide in neighbouring Rwanda in 1994. | Some of them were Rwandan Hutu militiamen who it is alleged took part in the genocide in neighbouring Rwanda in 1994. |
They were also caught up in the fighting and have been admitted to hospital in recent weeks. | They were also caught up in the fighting and have been admitted to hospital in recent weeks. |
Gen Nkunda and his men said they took up arms to fight the Rwandan Hutu militiamen, whom they perceived as a threat. | Gen Nkunda and his men said they took up arms to fight the Rwandan Hutu militiamen, whom they perceived as a threat. |
But DR Congo's army says they are trying to disarm them. | But DR Congo's army says they are trying to disarm them. |
Forced recruitment | Forced recruitment |
Medical staff have had to open feeding centres in Masisi, but an aid worker with French aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres said bringing medical supplies to the hospital was a nightmare because the different armed groups have established roadblocks. | Medical staff have had to open feeding centres in Masisi, but an aid worker with French aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres said bringing medical supplies to the hospital was a nightmare because the different armed groups have established roadblocks. |
Children in the area are said to be at risk of abduction | Children in the area are said to be at risk of abduction |
The road stretches through villages that have become ghost towns. | The road stretches through villages that have become ghost towns. |
Families walk on the side of the road, their few belongings on their head, our reporter says. | Families walk on the side of the road, their few belongings on their head, our reporter says. |
More than 300,000 civilians have already fled to displaced camps where they rely on humanitarian assistance. | More than 300,000 civilians have already fled to displaced camps where they rely on humanitarian assistance. |
But our correspondent says in Masisi there is a camp of another sort. About 400 young men and 70 children have gathered together in an open field. | But our correspondent says in Masisi there is a camp of another sort. About 400 young men and 70 children have gathered together in an open field. |
They say they have escaped from forced recruitment operated by the rebels of Gen Nkunda in the schools of the region. | They say they have escaped from forced recruitment operated by the rebels of Gen Nkunda in the schools of the region. |
They refuse to join any of the many armed groups in the area, our reporter says. | They refuse to join any of the many armed groups in the area, our reporter says. |
Our correspondent says they want peace to return so they can go back to school. | Our correspondent says they want peace to return so they can go back to school. |
But in the present climate for many children it is impossible to go to school. | But in the present climate for many children it is impossible to go to school. |