UK calls for vital aid for Congo
Updated on 01 November 2008
Desperate, scared and hungry, Congo's refugees are in urgent need as Britain and France make a diplomatic push for peace.
Many of the Congolese refugees have not eaten for days. The humanitarian need there is enormous. But securing those people's long term safety will only come from a political deal that sees Rwanda stop backing the rebels and Congo stop sheltering Hutu militias.
Both issues are being pursued by the British and French foreign secretaries in their visit to the region. Each has leverage over Rwanda and Congo through their foreign aid budgets. But military options are also on the table.
The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now a humanitarian catastrophe, according to foreign aid workers. There have been desperate scenes at refugee camps where aid is now getting through to some of the 250,000 people displaced by fear of fighting.
Diplomatic efforts have intensified as the Foreign Secretary David Miliband and his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner, arrived for talks with the regions leaders.
They flew into the Congolese capital Kinshasa, before travelling to Goma, near the border with Rwanda.
Next they will head to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda which is accused of supporting the rebel group, led by warlord Laurent Nkunda, whose forces are involved in the current conflict.
Our foreign affairs correspondent, Jonathan Miller, has been to one of the biggest refugee camps near Goma.
David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner are hoping they will be able to bring fighting in the Congo to an end swiftly but they are dealing with a conflict dating back more than a decade to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Jane Dodge looks at the task facing the diplomats.
