Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is raising serious concerns about the safety of civilians caught in the ongoing conflict between the M23 rebel group and government forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The mainly Tutsi-led M23 rebels resumed their insurgency in late 2021, seizing significant territory in North Kivu province.
This surge in violence has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, forcing them into overcrowded camps around the provincial capital, Goma.
MSF emergency coordinator Marie Brun emphasizes the urgent need for all parties to respect these displacement camps and cease fighting in their vicinity.
She highlights the tragic consequences of the conflict, citing heavy artillery fire targeting camps around Goma that has killed 23 people and injured 52 since February.
Brun, drawing on UN reports, describes a particularly devastating shelling on May 3rd that claimed the lives of at least 18 civilians, mostly women and children, and wounded 32 more.
She blames the growing proximity of armed groups and military positions to these camps for the escalating violence.
“Civilians are caught in the crossfire between the different armed groups,” Brun states.
They are living in a state of “complete insecurity” with no escape route available.
The situation in Goma is particularly precarious.
With multiple front lines surrounding the city and up to one million displaced people crammed alongside Goma’s existing population of two million, the risk of civilian casualties remains high.
MSF’s call for a ceasefire and respect for displaced persons serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of this ongoing conflict.
