By Olivia Le Poidevin
GENEVA (Reuters) -Thousands are without lifesaving aid in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo due to critical funding gaps, the United Nations Refugee agency said on Friday.
“Critical funding gaps are severely hampering humanitarian efforts in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond, leaving thousands without lifesaving aid and pushing an already dire humanitarian situation closer to catastrophe”, Eujin Byun from UNHCR told reporters in Geneva.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been internally displaced, while more than 100,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries in less than three months due to fighting between the M23 group and Congolese army, according to the UNHCR. Rwanda has denied accusations that it backs M23.
Shelters that previously housed some 400,000 people forced to flee the fighting in and around the city of Goma in North Kivu province have been destroyed, leaving families stranded without shelter or protection, UNHCR added.
“Due to funding cuts, humanitarian partners are struggling to rebuild shelters, leaving displaced people with few options for survival”, the agency said.
(Reporting by Olivia Le PoidevinEditing by Ludwig Burger)
