East DR Congo faces catastrophic humanitarian crisis

The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo faces a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, an aid agency has warned ahead of a regional summit in Uganda. The Oxfam charity said millions of people were now at the mercy of militias, with a sharp increase in killings, rapes and looting. It said the focus on dealing with rebels had diverted the security forces from other vulnerable areas. Nearly 500,000 had been displaced by the conflict since April, Oxfam added. The UN and the DR Congo government are accusing neighbouring Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group – a charge denied by Kigali. On Tuesday, Dr Congo President Joseph Kabila, and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame are expected to discuss the conflict at the regional summit near Uganda’s capital Kampala.(QNA)