Senior UN officials on Monday expressed alarm over the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in Goma, the eastern regional capital city.
Bruno Lemarquis, deputy special representative of the secretary-general and the resident and humanitarian coordinator for the DRC, reported that heavy artillery fire struck the city center, impacting hospitals and a UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) site.
“For example, several shells struck the charity maternity hospital in central Goma, killing and injuring civilians, including newborn and pregnant women,” Lemarquis stated. Additionally, a Save the Children facility and the UNHCR site were also hit.
While the number and extent of casualties at the maternity hospital remain unclear, there were no casualties reported at the other two sites. Hospitals in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, are currently overwhelmed with patients.
Speaking via video link from Kinshasa, the coordinator emphasized that the humanitarian crisis in and around Goma has reached “a new threshold of violence and suffering,” as active combat threatens all parts of the city. “Civilians are taking the brunt of the escalating hostilities,” he added.
Lemarquis noted that out of the city’s one million inhabitants, only critical UN humanitarian personnel remain, with non-essential staff and their dependents relocated to Kinshasa or the regional UN hub in Entebbe, Uganda.
The coordinator highlighted that 700,000 internally displaced people in and surrounding Goma are on the move, living in dire conditions over the weekend. “They have no choices; they have to flee the violence,” he said.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the under-secretary-general for peace operations, speaking from Damascus during his visit, stated that the situation on the ground remains volatile and dangerous. He mentioned significant advances in favor of M23 and Rwanda Defense Forces, indicating a shift in the balance of force.
Lacroix described the humanitarian challenges as daunting, warning of the high risks of a broad humanitarian disaster and the potential for a wide-ranging war. He recalled that three UN peacekeepers—two South Africans and one from Uruguay—were killed, with twelve others injured, alongside casualties among government forces.
The resident coordinator also reported that essential services in Goma are becoming critical, with water and electricity compromised, internet services cut, and phone networks only partially functional.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
