Violence threatening aid in DR Congo

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Ongoing rebel violence led by former Gen. Laurent Nkunda is threatening U.N. humanitarian operations in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Officials from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs say escalating violence between DR Congo government armed forces and the rebel National Congress for the Defense of the People is preventing access from humanitarian aid groups to refugees and internally displaced persons, the United Nations reported.

OCHA said Tuesday that since August as many as 250,000 IDPs have been forced from their homes as a result of the violence. The United Nations estimates there were approximately 850,000 IDPs and refugees before August.

The surge in violence has raised concerns that more people could be forced from their homes into the already vulnerable camps.

"Many more could be on the way from areas further north that have been affected by the fighting in recent days," Ron Redmond, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman, said in a statement.