At least 1 million people are in need of urgent food assistance in the provinces of North Kivu, Ituri and South Kivu, the World Food Programme (WFP) said in its report on Wednesday March 22nd.
According to the report by the UN agency, the humanitarian situation has continued to deteriorate in recent months in these three provinces.
Clashes between the army and M23 rebels in Masisi territory have caused more than 10,000 families to flee their entities to camps in Bulengo and Lushagara, around Goma, while other households have headed for South Kivu.
This is indicated by the latest WFP report on the evolution of the humanitarian situation in eastern DRC.
In this outlook WFP deplores the fact that displaced families, who have been living in camps in Nyiragongo and Rutshuru for several months now, are unable to return home because of the clashes, despite the ceasefire announced since 7 March.
Many villages along the Goma-Rutshuru road are emptied of their inhabitants, reports the UN agency.
In Ituri, the Coopérative pour le Développement du Congo (CODECO) and the terrorist group ADF are increasing their attacks, particularly in Drodro, and causing a large number of displacements to the Rho camp, which currently hosts more than 70,000 people.
These displaced families in the east are most in need of water, food, hygiene and sanitation as well as education for their children.
WFP adds that these people fleeing violence are pushed further into inaccessible areas where WFP is forced to suspend its operations.
The UN agency also says it has used the long detour through Rwanda and Uganda to deliver food and reach areas such as Kayna and Lubero.
