Fresh violence hampers aid effort in Congo

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- A fresh surge of violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has created an increasingly desperate situation for distributing humanitarian aid.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says a recent violent clash between Laurent Nkunda's rebel National Congress for the Defense of the People and Congolese government forces in the village of Ishasha, northeast of Goma, prompted thousands of people to flee the region, the ICRC reported.

ICRC officials say the new violence has created a difficult situation for distributing aid, just when the security situation had calmed. Several thousand people are fleeing the violence and streaming into neighboring Uganda. The thousands of displaced people that have remained in Congo are in need of medicine, food and drinking water.

"The ICRC is deeply concerned by the violations of international humanitarian law committed by parties to the conflict," the release said.