UN relief official says DR of Congo will be helped but must comply with pacts

The senior United Nations official coordinating humanitarian assistance said the international community would help the most vulnerable people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but, in return, the people and government of the country must comply with the peace and human rights agreements signed.

"We know the Congolese have high expectations of how we can and will assist you. Next week we launch an international appeal for increased assistance to the Congo in 2004," Under-Secretary-General Jan Egeland told a news conference in Kinshasa, the DRC capital, yesterday.

"But we also have high expectations of the people and authorities of this country. You must comply with the agreements signed in order to bring about the much needed peace and respect for human rights that Congo has long sought."

In the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, 3.5 million people have been displaced in the DRC and women and children in the eastern region have suffered widespread sexual violence during long-running clashes between rival rebel militias.

Mr. Egeland said the eyes of the international community were on the performance of the aid agencies and the Congolese authorities and he stressed the need for more access to the most vulnerable in the conflict areas. Implementing the disarmament programme would help increase access, he said.

"Peace is the door and access is the key," he said.

He travelled today to Maniema province, whose capital, Kindu, is now sporadically accessible, and Bukavu in South Kivu province. Both provinces are on the DRC's borders with Rwanda and Uganda.

Mr. Egeland urged the Maniema provincial governor to continue his efforts to end human rights abuses and violence against civilians. He also noted said the DRC was facing a big development challenge because of the serious deterioration of its infrastructure.