United Nations Radio

The latest round of fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has displaced more than 50,000 people since mid-July.

DRC camp refugees

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reports that the civilians are escaping an ongoing government military campaign against Hutu rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and their local allies in South Kivu province.

UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic says these internally displaced people (IDPs) have deserted their villages and are now living in forests, hills and other safe areas.

"An estimated 30,000 IDPs in the Ruzizi plain are being hosted mainly by the local communities. Some families are housing and feeding as many as three to four IDP families, which is putting considerable pressure on their meagre resources. Food stocks are running low, as some families are unable to access their fields because of the growing insecurity."

UNHCR and other aid organizations are planning to assist thousands of these people, but Mahecic says insecurity and poor road conditions are hampering their efforts.

Dianne Penn, United Nations Radio.

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