Initial
assessments showed that around 80,000 people uprooted by clashes
between the national army and rebels are in need of assistance in the
Irumu region of Ituri in Province Orientale, WFP spokesperson
Elisabeth Byrs told
reporters in Geneva.

However,
that number could increase to 120,000 to 150,000 people as fighting
was still ongoing and assessments in some areas had been impossible
due to security reasons, she added.

Given
the displacement trends, WFP needs $4.2 million to cover needs for at
least three months for 80,000 people. Ms. Byrs said the agency is
currently diverting food stocks from other planned activities to help
meet needs.

She
noted that some areas are currently relatively stable and accessible,
with identified concentrations of displaced households. Access is
limited though in areas where fighting is ongoing, and displaced
households are moving from location to location on a daily basis.

WFP
started its assistance on 13 September, and has thus far assisted
around 62,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host families.
Beneficiary registrations are ongoing in Komanda and Soke. WFP
intends to assist an additional 45,000 people between 10 and 13
October.

Fighting
over the past year in eastern DRC has displaced more than 100,000
people, exacerbating an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region
which already includes 2.6 million IDPs and 6.4 million in need of
food and emergency aid.