United Nations Radio

There were no major violations of the ceasefire or attacks on civilian lives or property in North Kivu.

That according to the U.N. Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). At the same time UN aid agencies have been helping to ease the suffering of the displaced people.

Though the overall situation is tense and unpredictable, the World Food Programme (WFP) says its convoy of 12 trucks carrying 100 tons of food encountered no problems on its trip from Goma to Rutshuru and Kiwanja. Some 12,000 people were being helped Friday out of 50,000 who have registered for food aid. The WFP convoy, which was escorted by UN peacekeepers, also brought blankets, plastic buckets, clothes, jerry cans and plastic sheeting.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR), meanwhile, says that because of persisting security threats, it has agreed with North Kivu authorities to transfer the more than 60,000 people in the two Kibati camps to a new site west of Goma. The transfer is due to start next week. And UNICEF said that recruitment of children by armed militias took place in Kitchanga. A number of 14-year old children are also reported to have been forcibly enlisted in Rugare and Rutshuru, bringing to some 3,000 the estimated number of children drafted into the ongoing conflict.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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