Airlift prepared for war-torn Congo

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International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander announced that the government is to fly out 90 tonnes of emergency supplies to help the thousands of people affected after fighting ravaged the east of the county.

Charities estimate that over 900,000 have been displaced in North Kivu, with around 55,000 people forced to leave their home in the last week alone.

Earlier charity Oxfam issued a fresh appeal to European Union foreign ministers to send troops to the region.

Mr Alexander said: "The situation in the DRC remains extremely grave. Over 900,000 people have been forced to leave their home in North Kivu and there is now an urgent need for food, water and shelter.

"That is why the Department for International Development (DFID) is sending an emergency aid flight to ensure much-needed supplies get to those men, women and children most at risk."

The 90-tonne load will be made up of around 18,000 blankets, 11,000 plastic sheets and 24,000 plastic water buckets and some six million water purification tablets.

The supplies will be sent to Entebbe in neighbouring Uganda on Wednesday and then transferred on to Goma on smaller aircraft.

The goods will go to people who have been forced to leave their home and are in need of immediate assistance.

The supplies will be distributed by Unicef and NGOs, who have said that there is not enough stock to meet demand in the worst hit areas.