Meanwhile, WFP announced on Tuesday that it was beginning to feed some 100,000 new IDPs in Kanyabayonga, North Kivu, in addition to 250,000 it was already feeding. This new group, comprising about 20,000 families, was in “Ugandan-held territory”, WFP official Nmanga Ngongi told a press conference in Kinshasa. An initial 12,500 would be targeted immediately, with the agency adding another 25,000 or more IDPs each week until it reached the 100,000 targeted by early September, Ngongi said. Initially, these IDPs were fed by the population in areas to which they fled or were able to go back to their villages but the situation had recently worsened, he said. “Now the IDPs fear more fighting in Kanyabayonga, they have left their villages with no intention of returning for now, fearing for their lives. Also, since land has been made available to these IDPs to cultivate, a food distribution now will ensure they do not eat the seeds provided to them,” Ngongi added.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
Share this article