newstodate.aero
FEB 18, 2003 (newstodate): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun an emergency operation to airlift food to more than 100,000 people in the town of Bunia, who have been displaced by fighting in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
WFP has chartered a Buffalo plane to deliver the food from Kasese in western Uganda to Bunia. With the plane able to carry eight metric tons of food per trip, the entire operation is likely to last for approximately five weeks.
The European Commission donated just over US$ 430,000 to cover the full costs of the operation.
Along with Bunia, WFP is also planning to airlift food to other parts of eastern Congo including the town of Kindu in Maniema province. An estimated 120,000 displaced people are in need of food relief in Maniema province
An airlift operation will begin once the insecurity in this area improves.
WFP has chartered a Buffalo plane to deliver the food from Kasese in western Uganda to Bunia. With the plane able to carry eight metric tons of food per trip, the entire operation is likely to last for approximately five weeks.
The European Commission donated just over US$ 430,000 to cover the full costs of the operation.
Along with Bunia, WFP is also planning to airlift food to other parts of eastern Congo including the town of Kindu in Maniema province. An estimated 120,000 displaced people are in need of food relief in Maniema province
An airlift operation will begin once the insecurity in this area improves.