ICRC delivers food to inaccessible town

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in collaboration with the local chapter of the Red Cross Society, on Thursday started providing food to some 13,500 people in Nyunzu town in Katanga province, southeast DRC, an ICRC statement said. Nyunzu is an area under the control of the RCD-Goma rebels and has been inaccessible since repeated attacks were carried out by “unidentified militia” last year, ICRC said. “The poor security situation has prevented the inhabitants from cultivating their fields and put an end to regular trade with neighbouring towns. As a result, many people are suffering from malnutrition.” ICRC noted that an Italian NGO, Nuova Frontiera, opened some nutritional centres in Nyunzu last January, but despite this “much-needed help the situation remains serious”. “The operation is a logistical challenge since Nyunzu can only be reached by plane and the airstrip is a small, sandy road, ICRC said. “The airlift that has now begun is being carried out from Goma to Nyunzu by an ICRC-chartered Hercules that will make two deliveries a day (18 tons per delivery) for five days.” The organisation added that a similar operation would be conducted in May.