The capture of Goma, a major city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, by the M23 rebel group has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation. The city, located in the resource-rich North Kivu region, has been a focal point of conflict, with the M23, backed by Rwanda, claiming control on Monday, while the Congolese government denied the claim. Ongoing fighting has resulted in at least 17 civilian deaths and hundreds of injuries, overwhelming local hospitals.
Tens of thousands of people had sought refuge in Goma in recent months, fleeing the rebel offensive that intensified last year. The M23's encirclement of the city in the past week led to the emptying of vast refugee camps on the outskirts, with residents left without a safe haven. Goma already housed 600,000 displaced persons, with an additional 400,000 arriving earlier this year. The city's population is estimated at 3 million, with half being children, according to Save the Children.
Access to Goma is currently impossible, with roads blocked and the airport rendered unusable due to clashes. The UN mission in the city reported that the airport cannot be utilized for evacuations or humanitarian aid deliveries. Hospitals, already strained by the influx of wounded from nearby Minova and Sake, which were captured by the M23 last week, are struggling to cope with the escalating violence in the city.
Medical facilities are facing shortages of water and electricity, with tents erected outside to accommodate the injured. The UN reported that a maternity clinic in the city center was also affected. "What is happening in Goma is the culmination of one of the longest, most complex and serious humanitarian crises on Earth, with 6.5 million displaced people in the country, nearly 3 million of whom are in North Kivu," said Bruno Lemarquis, UN coordinator in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many refugees have fled to neighboring Rwanda.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) coordinator in Goma, Virginie Napolitano, stated that it is currently difficult to ascertain the exact number of casualties.
In 2012, M23 rebels previously captured Goma, holding it for ten days before withdrawing under international pressure that led to Rwandan President Paul Kagame's temporary withdrawal of support for the group. Amnesty International recalled that the 2012 occupation was marked by human rights violations, including civilian killings, intimidation of activists, and sexual violence. Rape has since become a weapon of war in the region. Additionally, in the past year, both the M23 and the Congolese army have used artillery in densely populated areas.
A Kenya-mediated emergency meeting between Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi is scheduled for Wednesday, aimed at halting the fighting and violence. While Rwanda officially denies supporting the M23, the UN estimates that approximately 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are fighting alongside the group.
The Congolese government has labeled the attack on Goma a "declaration of war" by Rwanda. The Rwandan army reported that five civilians were killed on Monday in a border clash with the Congolese army in the Rwandan city of Gisenyi.