Brazil gives food assistance to DRC refugees in Congo

Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) - Brazil has donated 200 tonnes of maize for DR Congo refugees in Congo's northern department of Likouala.

The Brazilian Ambassador to Congo, Paulo AV Wolowski, handed over the donation to the Congolese Minister of Social Affairs, Emilienne Raoul, Tuesday.

The maize was obtained by the World Food Programme (WFP), which purchased it from farmers in the Congo's southern department of Bouenza, to enable them to access national and regional markets to fight against poverty.

According to the Brazilian diplomat, this aid is a response to the call by Congo for assistance to refugees from the DRC.

The United States, Sweden, France, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands and the European Union have all made similar donations to Congo in the past.

About 115,000 nationals of the DR Congo have, since 2009, fled to Congo because of the inter-ethnic violence in DRC'province of Equateur.
-0- PANA MB/JSG/JEN/SEG 15June2011