Congo humanitarian crisis 'something like you'd see in a horror movie'

The head of the UN's World Food Programis making an urgent appeal for aid to stave off a humanitarian crisis in Congo, formerly known as Zaire,where millions are struggling with food shortages brought on by conflict.

David Beasley began a four-day missionto the country on Friday and said more thanthree million people face severe hungerin the south-central Greater Kasai region.

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He saidseveral hundred thousand children could die within the next few months.

"It is heartbreaking to see 3.2. million people severely food insecure, who don't know where they will get their next meal," Beasley told CBC News.

"And we're talking about several hundred thousand children there that will die in the next few months if we don't get:first funds, and then second food, and then third, access in the right locations."

On Saturday, Beasleymet withconflict-displaced families in the region, where violence erupted in August 2016 afterclashes between security forces and the Kamwina Nsapu armed group.

Beasley said the violence is "something like you'd see in a horror movie."

"I've never seen anything like this. We literally have 12-year-olds and 10-year-olds killing others and chopping their heads off," he said.

"We're asking for the government and all parties involved to bring peace so that we can save innocent children and try to bring some stability to the region."

Aregional tribal leader who had defied the government of President Joseph Kabila died during the clashes.

Officials saythe number of people displaced by conflict has nearly doubled in the past six months to 1.5 million.