Britain pledges 64 million pounds for Congo

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said Wednesday it would donate 64 million pounds this year to help tackle a humanitarian crisis in the conflict-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.

Of this, 39 million pounds would be spent on providing food, safe drinking water and medical care and on supplying tools and seeds, a government statement said.

Britain will donate another 25 million pounds through a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) program to provide clean water and sanitation for 3.7 million Congolese.

The announcement came during a visit to the country by International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander.

Tutsi rebels led by Gen. Laurent Nkunda launched an offensive in eastern Congo last August.

More than a quarter of a million civilians have been driven from their homes since then, with widespread reports of murder, rape and looting. More than 5 million people have died since the beginning of a 1998-2003 war in the region.

(Reporting by Adrian Croft; Editing by Jon Boyle)