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Security and access in eastern DRC remain major concern: WFP
The World Food Programme plans to start distributing a ten-day ration Wednesday to more than 135,000 people in six camps around Goma.
WFP says it was part of a multi-agency overnight assessment to Rutshuru during which it visited camps that were completely deserted, with many shelters burnt to the ground.
Spokesperson in Geneva Emilia Casella says WFP staff reported signs of heavy fighting, including a lot of ammunition cases of artillery shells on the road north of Goma.
"Security and access, however, remain the main concern for the World Food Programme and all of our partners and our humanitarians in the area and we are calling for better guarantees from all sides for safe passage of humanitarian staff and goods to the areas that are known to be in greatest need."
Casella says the World Food Programme has welcomed a 2.3 million Euro cash donation from the European Commission which she says will be used directly for emergency in the eastern Congo.
WFP says it has sufficient stocks in Goma for our limited but immediate response, but on the medium term the food supply picture is a major concern.
This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.
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