Los Angeles, Calif. - As clashes between rebels and government troops have caused renewed suffering in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, International Medical Corps (IMC) continues delivering emergency assistance to civilians fleeing the fighting, while working to maintain the safety of its staff.
Tens of thousands have been displaced by the latest violence north of Goma. International Medical Corps staff began relocating operations to camps further south from the fighting, and evacuating patients to a hospital in Goma.
"We are extremely concerned about the deteriorating situation, in particular its impact on displaced populations who are now at even greater risk of disease, hunger and sexual violence," said Ben Hemingway, International Medical Corps' Deputy Director of Operations. "We are hopeful that the ceasefire will hold, humanitarian access will be restored, and that the delivery of lifesaving medical assistance can resume to assist the long suffering people of DRC."
International Medical Corps has been operating in the most volatile regions of DRC since the mid-90's. In North Kivu province, where much of the recent fighting has taken place, IMC runs primary health care clinics and nutrition programs that serve more than 300,000 people.
The following people are available for interviews:
In Goma - Pierre Willems, Country Director
In Bukavu - Selam Kebrom, Desk Officer
In Washington, D.C. - Ben Hemingway, Deputy Director of Operations
Since its inception nearly 25 years ago, International Medical Corps' mission has been consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance. For more information visit our website at www.imcworldwide.org.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
General view of a construction site of a new settlement for refugees, some 60 km (37 miles) west of Tbilisi, October 29, 2008. Thousands of Georgians made homeless by the August ...
