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UN agency calls for urgent aid as conflict drives refugees from DR Congo

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Congolese refugees flee ongoing clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Congolese refugees flee ongoing clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Funding is desperately needed to feed a wave of refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to Burundi, the World Food Programme said.

The United Nations agency warned on Monday that 70,000 people have fled across the border to neighbouring Burundi since Rwanda-backed armed group M23 launched an offensive in January and seized large swaths of territory in eastern DRC.

The influx has raised the total number of people dependent on food aid from WFP in Burundi to 120,000, the United Nations agency said in a statement.

Current funding is only sufficient to sustain operations for 120,000 refugees through June, the WFP, which this month cut rations given to refugees by 50 percent, said. It added that it needs $19.8m in additional funding to maintain support until the end of the year.

“Refugees are arriving every day, some weighed down with hastily packed bundles and suitcases, and others with nothing but the clothes on their backs,” said Dragica Pajevic, WFP’s deputy regional director for eastern Africa.

“Although we are grateful for the funding received to date, it’s simply not enough. Our available resources are stretched beyond capacity, and we’re being forced to adapt our operations and reduce rations,” Pajevic added.

WFP provides meals to refugees housed in temporary transit camps, schools, churches and sports stadiums.

The longstanding tension in DRC, which has flared into violence since the start of 2025, has provoked one of the world’s largest displacement crises.

At least 7,000 people have been killed in recent months and many more injured, driving millions to flee.

In January, M23 seized control of Goma, the capital of mineral-rich North Kivu province, before capturing Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. The Rwanda-backed force has since advanced west.

Without additional funding, the WFP has said it will have to suspend food assistance entirely in Burundi by July at the latest, although it warned that the ongoing violence and instability threaten an even greater shortfall as it boosts refugee numbers further.

Funding constraints are partly the result of cuts at the US Agency for International Development (USAID). On March 10, the Donald Trump administration announced that 83 percent of all programmes at USAID had been cancelled following a six-week review.

Financing shortfalls have raised the alarm among humanitarian workers across the Global South, where the withdrawal of USAID support threatens decades of progress against not just malnutrition, but also tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Ebola.

Armed Robbery on Manso road In Ashanti Region

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A terrifying armed robbery attack has left passengers traumatized after five armed robbers struck on the deplorable Manso road in the Ashanti Region. The robbers, armed and ruthless, targeted unsuspecting travelers, most of whom were traders, robbing them of money, phones, and other valuables. The incident has sparked renewed concerns about security on Ghana’s highways. 

A victim of the attack, who recounted her ordeal in a video posted on X by Eddie Wrt, described the chilling experience. According to her, another vehicle that had already been robbed tried to warn them about the danger ahead, but their driver failed to recognize the signal. Moments later, they were ambushed and forced to stop. The robbers then ordered the passengers to a bushy area, where she saw three other vehicles whose occupants had already been robbed. 

Fearing for her safety, the victim revealed that she quickly hid her phone inside the seat cover of the vehicle with the help of a male passenger. Shortly after, the robbers began stripping the passengers of their belongings, leaving them helpless. In a particularly disturbing revelation, she mentioned that female passengers who had no money to offer were stripped of their clothing by the assailants. 

Despite the horrifying nature of the attack, no casualties were reported. However, the incident has reignited conversations about the poor state of the Manso road, which has long been a hotspot for criminal activities due to its deteriorated condition. Many believe that the bad roads make it easier for criminals to operate, as vehicles are often forced to slow down or stop. 

The attack has sparked outrage among Ghanaians, with many calling on authorities to enhance security in the area and fix the roads to prevent such incidents. As investigations continue, passengers and traders who frequently use the route are left questioning their safety, wondering when the government will take decisive action to protect them from such harrowing experiences.

SOURCE