Politics mar Congo relief efforts

This is a crucial moment for the 32-year-old Kabila to prove his leadership credentials, says Joseph Ayee, head of political science at the University of Ghana. "His ability to play a part in this natural disaster will be used as a yardstick to determine his ability to solve the country's problems in general."

It is also a crucial moment for the rebel RCD, which does not intend to let Kabila gain leverage here, especially after losing their headquarters in the eruption. When asked about working with the government, Sec.-Gen. Azarias Ruberwa frowns. "They are not sincere," he charges. "They want to profit from our misery to show the people that it is they who take care of them. But we run the show here. We are working with the international aid community to take care of the needs of our people." RCD President Adolph Onusumba Yemba adds that if Kabila wants to help, he should donate money to the UN assistance fund "just like every other foreign country is doing."

"It's unfortunate that the rebels are making this into a political issue," says government Information Minister Kikaya Bin Karubi. "Don't we have a cease-fire agreement? Aren't we working toward peace? This is an opportunity for the country to unite."

Meanwhile, the Rwandan government, which backs the rebels, is appealing to the international community to channel aid funds directly through it. "As a government, we have sized up the situation and we have prepared the camps," Rwandan Interior Minister Jean de Dieu Ntiruhungwa said over the weekend. "We have mobilized the international community, and we have been holding meetings with the UN to discuss the problems ahead. We think it would be best for the refugees - for security reasons - to remain here."

For the time being, says one senior UN official, aid efforts will be coordinated with the party in control of Goma - the RCD - even though it is not seen to be representative of the population. Efforts are focused on emergency needs, he explains. "We will need to sort out the politics of all this later."

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva says agencies are preparing six sites for aid distribution and two for temporary resettlement near Goma.

As the parties play political tug of war, thousands of refugees roam the hilly paths of near Rwanda or make their way back home over the warm, molten rock that carpets their city.

"Who will help us?" asks George Ngoy, a teacher and father of four whose home and workplace were demolished. "Kinshasa has forgotten us long ago, the RCD has nothing to offer, and we would rather starve than go live in Rwanda."

Salvador Muindu, another refugee, adds: "We would be so happy to have peace and quiet here," he says. "We have been suffering for so long. No one has ever cared. Maybe now, when the world is looking at us, someone will notice how very miserable we are."

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