Bonn/Goma, 27.10.2006. Only days before the final ballot of presidential elections between incumbent Joseph Kabila and his challenger, Jean-Pierre Bemba, on Sunday, Welthungerhilfe is calling for the extension of the Eufor assignment until 30th November.

"The mission hasn't been completed yet," says Georg Dörken, Welthungerhilfe's programme manager in DR Congo. "The duration of the operation can't be prescribed by a date alone. It should depend on the fulfilment of its goals." Soldiers should only be withdrawn once the government is formed and has established itself. If not, there is a high risk of returning to the violence and chaos under which primarily the civilian population will suffer.

Furthermore, Welthungerhilfe sees European commitment in DR Congo not only on a military level but in building a long-term strategy to guarantee lasting peace in the region and seeing to the regeneration of state structures and infrastructure. A vital element of this is ensuring that DR Congo's wealth of natural resources is not only used by and for a corrupt ruling elite and brutal rebel leaders, but for the benefit of the country's people as a whole.

"There are increasingly disturbing signs," says Rüdiger Sterz, Welthungerhilfe's Head of Project in Bunia in the east of DR Congo. "The arms trade has increased and more and more child soldiers are being recruited." Although the election campaign has gone smoothly in the east, Monuc, the UN mission in DR Congo, has reinforced strategic posts and boosted patrols. "The major concern is about what will happen after the election results are announced. There are still thousands of combatants who are not integrated into the army or the civilian population. The potential for violence is high. Even once the election is over, the country is still far from being stable."

Georg Dörken and Rüdiger Sterz are available to give interviews in.

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe has been active in eastern Congo since 1997. With a project volume of almost 50 million euros, we are reaching more than seven million people. In addition to the construction of the Goma-Kisangani national road and several feed roads, the organisation is rebuilding schools and health centres. Returning refugees are given seed and agricultural equipment as well as food aid to bridge the difficult period until the first harvest.

For further information see www.welthungerhilfe.de

Contact:

Marion Aberle, press spokesperson Tel. 0228 / 22 88 -114 0172 / 25 25 962

Simone Pott, press officer Tel. 0228 / 22 88 -132

Assistant: Doris Theisen Tel. 0228 / 22 88 -128 Fax 0228 / 22 88 -188

Email presse@welthungerhilfe.de

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