May. Last month the agency distributed food supplies to 190,000 displaced people in the prefecture, most of whom are living in non-residential, public sites. Gisenyi is not the only prefecture that is struggling to deal with population displacement due to insecurity. WFP has also been providing food to more than 150,000 internally displaced in the neighbouring prefecture of Ruhengeri, where rebel attacks have prompted residents to move into camps where there is military protection. WFP has temporarily suspended food distribution in Ruhengeri. This follows an incident last month when a truck delivering WFP food in the prefecture was struck by a landmine resulting in the death of one person and seriously injuring another.
Discussions are currently underway to resume the distributions as soon as possible.
We're feeding three times as many displaced people compared to four months ago. If the security holds we could start to see those numbers go down. But if attacks continue, then people will remain in these sites and have little chance of regaining their once productive lives. Health officials in Gisenyi are finding that many of the internally displaced are in need of nutritional support. Gisenyi hospital, the prefectures primary health facility reports that fifty per cent of the cases being treated now are problems of malnutrition within the displaced community.