Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo has escalated dramatically, with fighting between government forces and M23 rebels leaving at least 700 dead over the past five days.
After more than a decade of unrest, the situation in central Congo took a violent turn as the M23 rebel group launched a major offensive on Sunday (January 26) in the city of Goma.
M23 fighters seized control of Goma, a key city in eastern DRC home to around three million people. The group, one of the most powerful among more than 100 armed factions operating in the resource-rich region, has continued its advance despite resistance from government troops.
Casualties and Damages
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted that the fighting in Goma has resulted in at least 773 deaths and left 2,800 others injured in five days, between January 28-30. Therefore, thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes.
“Humanitarian organizations in Goma continue to assess the impact of the crisis including the widespread looting of warehouses and the offices of aid organizations,” he said, as reported by CNN.
Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya warned that the death toll could rise. “The rebels ordered civilians to clear the streets, and there are likely undiscovered mass graves,” he said during a press briefing in Kinshasa on Saturday (February 1).
According to The Guardian, the streets of Goma are littered with debris and abandoned weapons, while the stench of blood lingers in the air. Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties, and medical facilities are running out of essential supplies.
Rose Tchwenko, director of Mercy Corps in Congo, expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis. “Aid routes have been cut off. Thousands of people have lost access to food, water, and medical care,” she said, as reported by Kumparan.
Growing Humanitarian Crisis
If the fighting and violence in Congo continues, the United Nations has warned that the DRC could face one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. UN agencies have issued urgent calls for an end to hostilities, highlighting the rapidly worsening conditions in Goma.
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On the other hand, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) voiced concern for the hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced by the conflict, many of whom have already been forced from their homes.
“With the alarming escalation of fighting, an already dire situation is deteriorating at an alarming pace,” said IOM Director-General Amy Pope.
As the conflict intensifies, the fate of thousands of civilians were uncertain. With humanitarian conditions worsening and violence showing no signs of abating, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and prevent further loss of life in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
(Raidi/Agung)
