United Nations Radio

Fighting broke out today interrupting relief assistance to displaced people in camps near the town of Kibati in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR says shooting, which caused panic among the displaced, stopped after about thirty minutes.

According to UNHCR, internally displaced people continued to move toward Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu to the south of Kibati.

UNHCR Spokesman Ron Redmond says relief agencies are rushing to get life-saving assistance as quickly as possible to the people displaced by fighting in that part of the Congo.

"UNHCR and other aid agencies are distributing humanitarian assistance in Kibati. This includes food, plastic sheeting for shelter construction, blankets, mats, kitchen sets, mosquito nets and jerry cans. Deliveries are being made to six UNHCR-managed camps around Goma that currently shelter some 135,000 displaced people."

The UN refugee agency is again appealing to all sides in the conflict to respect humanitarian principles and to ensure the safety of civilians and those trying to help them.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.

(duration: 1'13")