Aid agencies say hundreds of thousands of people are in need of food, medical treatment and shelter in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in central Africa.
Almost a quarter of a million people have fled their homes in the city of Goma, because of fighting between government soldiers and rebel groups.
Many thousands are hiding in forests and some aid agencies have had to stop their work because of the violence.
They're warning that the situation in the Congo is very bad.
In the past two months, more than 200,000 people have been driven from their homes, but it's not the first time fighting's broken there.
Soldiers entering a burned-out building
|
There's been lots of tension between different tribal groups ever since a big war in the country six years ago when millions of people died.
The cause of the latest violence isn't clear, but it's thought one of the reasons behind the latest outbreak is that some people feel the Congolese government isn't doing enough to protect their land.
The rebel leader of the Tutsi tribe, General Nkunda, has said he is fighting to protect his community from attack by Hutu fighters, who come from the neighbouring country, Rwanda.
At the moment there is a ceasefire in the eastern city of Goma, and officials are working to try to find a way to resolve the crisis.
Home
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
