United Nations Radio

The UN special envoy for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Alan Doss, says UN peacekeepers have provided 21 escorts to humanitarian agencies on field mission in North Kivu.

Doss made the disclosure in a letter to Médecins Sans Frontières after the organisation said that civilians and aid workers were being harassed and abused by both the government army and illegal armed groups.

Doss also stressed that he is seeking support from the Security Council to temporarily raise troop levels in north Kivu in order to allow better protection for civilian populations.

The Mission, meanwhile, has confirmed that UN peacekeepers this weekend rescued 13 children under the age 18 from forced recruitment by illegal armed groups in North Kivu.

During that mission, the peacekeepers were fired upon by fighters loyal to General Laurent Nkunda. The peacekeepers returned fire, wounding one rebel.

This is Donn Bobb for United Nations Radio.

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