Ivan Lewis in Goma, DR Congo: Minister for International Development sees harsh conditions for displaced people in Mugunga camp

10 December 2008. Goma, The Democratic Republic of Congo.

Minister for International Development, Ivan Lewis MP, sees harsh conditions for displaced people in Mugunga camp.

The Minister was on a fact-finding visit to Goma to see for himself conditions on the ground – including life in the refugee camps – and to speak to aid workers, the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and people affected by the crisis.

The UK is directly helping those people forced to leave their home or at risk from malnutrition and disease with a £42 million humanitarian aid package, providing food, water and shelter.

DFID is playing a leading role in co-ordinating the humanitarian responses of other international donors. The recent decline in fighting has allowed an increase in humanitarian assistance, with more aid getting through to those most in need and many people being helped to return home.

However, the situation remains grave, with 1.6 million displaced across DRC, 250,000 of whom have fled their homes in North Kivu since August.

To find out more, please visit: www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/congo-lewis.a sp

Image credit: Bill McCarthy

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items are from 10 Dec 2008.