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Cholera Is Latest Congo Fight

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 11, 2008

KIBATI, Congo - A cholera outbreak in a sprawling refugee camp has spread to eastern Congo's provincial capital of Goma, increasing fears of an epidemic amid a tense standoff between troops and rebels, officials said.
Cholera cases rose slightly Monday in the towns of Goma and Kibati, with at least 90 known cases and six new admissions overnight. Officials with Doctors Without Borders said the cases they were treating were well-contained. Only four new ones were reported at the group's clinic in Kibati camp.

But dozens of people have died of cholera in recent weeks elsewhere in eastern Congo. Doctors also fear an epidemic behind rebel lines, where access has been limited by fighting and rebels have driven tens of thousands of people from camps where outbreaks had been contained.

Also, refugee conditions in many places continue to worsen.

In an unofficial refugee camp set up in Goma for park rangers and their families, some 900 people crowded into plastic tents - some smaller than a sports-utility vehicle - and hungrily eyed six heavy sacks of beans donated by an international Catholic charity.
Camp director Christian Shamavu was responsible for safeguarding gorillas and elephants as a ranger at Virunga National Park until a month ago.

"It's easier to protect gorillas and elephants than people," Shamavu said Monday.

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