EU flies aid to conflict-hit eastern Congo

Humanitarian aid is seen arranged inside a European Union (EU) flight to be distributed to the civilians displaced by fighting between the army and M23 rebels, at the airport in Goma, North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - A bright yellow cargo plane carrying tents, medical equipment, and other humanitarian aid landed on Friday in the eastern Congolese city of Goma - the first delivery under an EU scheme to support some of the region's millions of displaced people.

Fighting between the Congolese army and the M23, a rebel group claiming to represent the interests of ethnic Tutsis in eastern Congo, has exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis with over 5.5 million people displaced across several provinces.