On a 200 kilometer stretch of road from Lubutu, only one car was seen, and all villages appeared empty. Fleeing Zairean soldiers are retreating and looting their way towards Kisangani. Some reports say soldiers arriving in Kisangani are fighting with Zairean soldiers stationed in Kisangani. All aircraft in Kisangani have reportedly been flown out, leaving concentrated numbers of soldiers with no easy escape route. Flight observations say there are no visible concentration of refugees in the Masisi area, as previously speculated.
Military intervention aims to establish protected zones and ensure the safe delivery of aid.
The resolution recommends that a mission be limited to a period of two months. The draft resolution given to the Security Council yesterday, prepared by France and also discussed by the Brussels meeting on Thursday, contains the proposals made by France and expresses deep concern at the humanitarian situation and the need to act quickly. The Security Council is expected to meet on the matter in the next two days. Despite the scale of the emergency, some countries show reservations about military intervention because of past experiences, like Somalia, which drew much international criticism and ultimately failed, in the long term, to resolve conflict and meet humanitarian needs. British-based charity Save the Children Fund issued a statement on Thursday evening opposing military intervention.