Kisangani population living in fear

The condition of the civilian population in Kisangani, where Rwandan and Ugandan forces are reported to be in a tense stand-off despite plans for the demilitarisation of the city, has become an increasing concern to relief agencies operational in the area. On the one hand, the population was trapped, unable to access necessary supplies, and, on the other, there was concern that civilians could be used as human shields by one party or the other if fighting resumed - which nobody ruled out, humanitarian sources said. With Kisangani having been already severely affected by the DRC conflict, it was feared that the trauma in the civilian population could deepen as it lived in permanent fear of armed clashes. Despite the Rwandan-Ugandan clashes, state exams had gone ahead in all but three zones of the city last week, the sources added.