60 internally displaced people, including 33 children, die from starvation in Congo

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - At least 60 internally displaced people have died from starvation in the central Congo province of Kwilu, the Provincial Humanitarian Commission said Friday.

UN Radio in the Congo said more than 4,600 displaced people from Kwamouth territory in Mai-Ndombe province are now living without food and other assistance where they fled to in Bandundu territory in neighboring Kwilu province.

The senior advisor from the Kwilu Humanitarian Actions, Frederic Nkumpum, said the deaths were recorded since the group’s arrival in Bandundu territory at the end of August.

“Overall, there are 33 children who died and there are 27 adults. For adults, we have 17 women and 10 men. There is the problem of living conditions which arises because these people are not assisted, there is no intervention concerning their food,” he said.

Nkumpum said the Provincial Humanitarian Affairs Commission is asking for help to spare displaced people who are living in precarious conditions.

“Here in Bandundu, the number of displaced people stands at 4,669. They really need to be helped. We continue to appeal to stakeholders to come and assist our displaced people who are suffering here,” he said.

Displacement is common in some parts of Congo where rebels and militia groups attack villages and kill residents, resulting in people fleeing to safer places.

The Congo currently hosts 6.2 million internally displaced people, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.