This was announced by the UN children’s fund Unicef on Saturday. Thousands of children are at risk and have very limited access to basic services, Unicef’s Grant Leaity said after visiting Rutshuru in North Kivu province. According to UNICEF, the displaced urgently need food, household items, medical care, clean water and sanitary facilities.
“Humanitarian aid is slow to arrive while needs continue to grow at an alarming rate,” the UN agency warned. “It is imperative that we act now to prevent a significant increase in the number of children suffering from acute malnutrition.”
Fierce fighting between government troops and the Tutsi rebel organization M23 recently raged in North Kivu in the Rutshuru and Nyiragongo areas. The government accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels. Kigali denies this.
(sda)
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