Tracking: Fighting in Congo

- First the good news, such as it is - the ceasefire appears to be holding through the weekend.

- At least some of the civilians who fled the fighting around Goma are beginning to return home, though this is more a reflection of the desperate humanitarian situation than anything else.  As Jeffrey Gettleman of the New York Times reports:

“'Who knows if peace will last,' said Kabando Rusisi, a farmer marching along in yellow flip-flops. 'But we were starving.'

No food. No shelter. Pounding rain. Sick babies. Mr. Rusisi described a joyless choice: to venture back to his village, now under rebel control, or to wither away in the grass waiting for the help that did not seem as if it would come. 'We’re better off on our own,' he said."

According to another woman: "We are returning -- this is my third time to come and go. If we die, at least we will die at home."

- In response, the UN and NGOs are planning an aid convoy into rebel heads areas on Monday, to bring assistance to an estimated 50,000 people displaced by the fighting.  The convoy will be protected by UN peacekeepers.

According to Gloria Fernandez, the head of the OCHA office in Congo: "Our priority is to restart the activities at many health centres in the area of Rutshuru and Kiwanja. We're taking health supplies, water, and sanitation."

- There's also an interesting AP article looking at why the UN peacekeeping force failed to protect civilians during the recent fighting.

- Finally there are initial reports that an attack yesterday by Ugandan group the Lord's Resistance Army on the town of Dungu in northern Congo has caused as many as 50,000 people to flee the area.  This is separate from the fighting around Goma.

[Image of Congolese refugees returning to their homes from CBC / AP]