European Union Troops are Needed to Now

The European Union is close to sending troops to the Congo to avert a further humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo.

Belgium and France appear to be leading the movement to support the MONUC immediately.  The UN has approved an increase in troops levels for MONUC.  But it is going to take time to deploy them to Congo.

AFP: Calls mount for international action in DR Congo.

GOMA, DR Congo (AFP) — International pressure mounted Sunday for Europe to send an emergency security force to halt strife in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as thousands more fled fighting between rebels and government forces.

Belgium's foreign minister said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon favours a special European force until full UN peacekeeping reinforcements can be found. A French minister visiting the conflict zone called for international action to counter which she called "catastrophic" conditions for refugees.

An estimated 250,000 people have been displaced since new fighting between renegade Tutsi general Laurent Nkunda and government forces erupted in August. This has worsened over the past six weeks with the main eastern city of Goma now surrounded by rebels.