'Human catastrophe' in Congo..
The Mail
The war-stricken Democratic Republic of Congo faces a humanitarian catastrophe, the Red Cross warned today as retreating government troops were accused of looting and killing civilians.
The warning came despite a fragile truce that appeared to have halted most fighting as diplomats work to end the crisis.
In Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu in the east of the country, sporadic gunfire could be heard overnight after a day which saw drunken troops looting and killing in the city.
While rebel forces led by Laurent Nkunda fell back to positions seven miles away, in the city itself soldiers from the government forces pillaged and raped, reportedly killing at least nine people in their homes.
One Goma restaurateur was shot dead and his body left to rot in the street.
MagicDragon, WHY shouldnt it do something? Why else does it exist?
United Nothing it is.
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UN should help with the peacekeeping of the distress nations..
Since it first coordinated humanitarian relief operations in Europe following the Second World War, the United Nations has been relied on by the international community to respond to natural and man-made disasters that are beyond the capacity of national authorities alone. Today, the UN is a major provider of emergency relief and longer-term assistance, a catalyst for action by governments and relief agencies, and an advocate on behalf of people struck by emergencies.
Emergencies
In the last decade, civil wars have become a central cause of emergency situations. In 2000 alone, millions were uprooted from their homes by war. Natural disasters — floods, droughts, storms and earthquakes — killed more than 50,000 people and caused economic losses exceeding $90 billion in 1998. More than 90 per cent of all disaster victims live in developing countries — a striking indicator of the degree to which poverty, population pressures and environmental degradation exacerbate suffering and destruction.
The United Nations has responded on two fronts. On one hand it has sought to bring immediate relief to the victims, primarily through its operational agencies; on the other hand, it has sought more effective strategies to prevent emergencies from arising in the first place.
http://www.un.org/aboutun/basicfacts/haction.htm
Tell me about it, I used to work there. Its unbelievable unless you experience it and it an experience which I would not recommend
just eat another pie
Why should the UN do something?
where's UN? what are they doing?
I agree with your fourth paragraph, bird. Foreign 'help' will only serve the 'ruling' people to continue their infamous run for personal wealth and power.
Seems to me they are running out of money for weapons again, this is why the world should step in and help them.
This news is more that 40 years old as I remember being encouraged as a child to spend money for the starving in the Congo - prey tell me what changed in 40 years.
If we look at the most of the African states they are fighting and killing each other - letting their folk die of starvation, buying weapons etc. etc.
Who should intervene - let them get on with it until they find out that this is not working for them.
I think Im in the wrong profession. (edited)
...on further thought, it wont matter if there was yet another person specializing in International Conflict & Resolution or something similar. The b problem is so deeply entrenched in the minds of these b leaders.
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You are again right..
My main accusation is to African leaders themselves. They have allowed this to fester and the people of Africa are suffering.
In a way, nothing is new.. Its the same old cycle..
The rebels kill and rape the civilians and then gevernment troops kill and rape the civilians..
Vicious cycle - the innocent suffer ..The world watches and life goes on..
Nothing