United Nations Radio

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) is today starting to resettle internally displaced people to safer camps in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

UNHCR has been concerned that warring parties are in areas close to the Kibati camps north of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

The agency says its vehicles will transport the first group with special needs, such as people with physical disabilities or chronic illnesses, pregnant women and the elderly, to Mugunga One camp.

Mugunga One is one of the existing four sites for internally displaced people in the conflict torn eastern part of Congo.

UNHCR spokesman William Spindler says today's voluntary relocation is the first in a series of planned movements that will run through the weekend.

"By the beginning of next week we plan to have moved some 1,000 people away from Kibati. Before the transfers started, IDPs were informed about the voluntary relocation and the risks of staying at Kibati. Tens of thousands of displaced Congolese civilians sheltering in the Kibati camps are in a precarious situation as the warring parties remain in close proximity."

Meanwhile, a UNHCR team in the Ugandan border town of Ishasha is arranging for the transportation of thousands of Congolese refugees who have fled to Uganda.

The new arrivals told the agency that they are fleeing fresh fighting around the town of Rutshuru north of Goma.

Diane Bailey, United Nations

(duration: 1'27")