MONUC secures key locations to ease aid delivery

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUC, has secured two strategic points that would enable a convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid to reach hunger-stricken population in parts of the eastern province of South Kivu. "These are the most crucial points where we anticipated security problems," Sebastian Lapierre, a MONUC spokesman in Bukavu, told IRIN on Thursday. He added that MONUC would ensure that the locations remained secure. He said MONUC had demilitarised the two most insecure areas of Tubimbi and Kilungutwe, which were previously occupied by Rwandan Hutu rebels and Mayi-Mayi militia men. Lapierre said that this meant that it was now secure for the humanitarian trucks to transport goods to previously inaccessible areas in South Kivu. Eight humanitarian truck convoys left Bukavu on Wednesday, with food and non-food items for Mwenga, 150 km to the southwest. "Operations will continue to secure the totality of the axis in view of ensuring free passage for the convoy," Lapierre said. He said it would take three to four weeks to deliver the relief aid to some 30,000 people in the mountainous areas of Mwenga. The humanitarian convoy, organised by NGO Caritas Development International, will supply 258 mt of food and other non-food items to vulnerable civilians. MONUC will also use mobile radio transmitters in the secured areas to urge the locals to support the humanitarian programme. The mission would also sensitise the Rwandan Hutu militiamen to return home voluntarily, Lapierre added.