“Disastrous conditions” in Kinkala

The first overland mission to Kinkala in the war-affected interior of the country found “disastrous conditions” with thousands of displaced people suffering from malnutrition, UN Humanitarian Coordinator William Paton told IRIN on Friday. The mission, comprising UN, donor and government representatives, left Brazzaville on Wednesday and was a “major advance” in humanitarian access, he said. Its objectives were to verify access and security to Kinkala town, examine the condition of displaced people there and assess what structures -if any- might be used for meeting humanitarian needs. The mission warned that a humanitarian crisis was unfolding in Kinkala, food was very scarce and many people would not survive.