Bonn, 06/03/2003 - What is needed is a strong mandate and at least 2,000 to 3,000-man contingent to completely disarm various militias, which have many child soldiers among their ranks.
According to Marcus Sack, the possibility
of a massacre increases with every day that peacekeeping troops are not
on the scene because both of the two warring parties are jocking to achieve
the best possible strategic military position.
Thousands of refugees will not be able to return home until those persons who were behind the hideous violations of human rights are no longer at large, stresses Sack. These people must be tried before a tribunal as war criminals. It is also necessary for the peacekeeping force to make it possible for the few aid organisations operating in the region to do their work unimpeded. On top of the peacekeeping force, German Agro Action believes that considerable political pressure needs to be applied to the governments of Rwanda and Uganda, which are also involved in the crisis.
At present the staff of German Agro Action are supplying above all refugees in the region surrounding Bunia with foodstuffs and other vital aid.
German Agro Action has been working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1997. It has been aiding around 60,000 displaced families in the conflict region of Ituri for three years. It is currently carrying out eight projects with a total volume of 17 million Euros.