Goma's Water Crisis: A Lifeline for Children Amid Conflict
Conflict Leaves Goma Residents Without Essential Services
The violent clashes that erupted at the end of January led to the takeover of Goma by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. This escalation displaced nearly a third of the city’s two million residents and left many without clean water, electricity, or sanitation.
The ongoing conflict between the Congolese Government, M23, and other armed groups— fueling instability in eastern DRC for decades—has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. UNICEF has identified two urgent priorities: restoring access to clean water and sanitation.
Hundreds of thousands are now relocating from makeshift displacement sites back to their communities, where basic services remain extremely limited.
Clean Water: A Crucial Necessity
“Clean water is a lifeline. With cholera and mpox epidemics spreading in eastern DRC, children and families need safe water now more than ever. Without it, we risk a deeper health crisis,” stated Jean Francois Basse, UNICEF’s acting Representative in DRC.
Waterborne Diseases Pose a Greater Threat Than Violence
“Globally, children in prolonged conflict zones are three times more likely to die from water-related diseases than from violence. Restoring essential services must be a priority to prevent further loss of life,” Basse added.
Despite deteriorating security conditions, UNICEF swiftly responded by supplying water to three key health facilities, including Virunga General Referral Hospital, which treated around 3,000 injured patients. Additionally, medical supplies capable of treating 50,000 people were distributed to overwhelmed health centers.
Thanks to UNICEF and the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, which provided 77,000 liters of fuel, REGIDESO—Goma’s main water utility—was able to restart five critical pumping stations, restoring daily water access to 700,000 people.
On the eastern side of the city, a UNICEF-built water network is supplying clean water to an additional 33,000 residents in Bushara-Kayarutshiyna.
Cholera Cases on the Rise
Many residents, however, still rely on untreated lake water. To combat this, UNICEF and partners have established over 50 chlorine treatment sites along Lake Kivu, providing safe drinking water to 56,000 people each day and reducing the risk of cholera outbreaks.
“We’re already witnessing a worrying increase in cholera cases due to displacement and reliance on unsafe water. With the rainy season approaching, an uncontrollable surge in cases is a major concern,” Basse warned.
Over the past decade, cholera has claimed more than 5,500 lives in DRC, where just 43% of the population has access to basic water services, and only 15% has access to proper sanitation.
Worsening Conditions for Displaced Communities
Even before the latest conflict escalation, around 700,000 displaced people were living in camps with dangerously inadequate access to water and sanitation. This not only heightened the risk of disease outbreaks but also exposed women and girls to gender-based violence when collecting water and firewood.
In accordance with the Geneva List of Principles on the Protection of Water Infrastructure, UNICEF is urging all parties in the conflict to safeguard access to water, as its destruction can have devastating humanitarian consequences.
As the crisis deepens, providing clean water remains one of the most vital efforts to protect the lives of thousands of children and families in Goma.
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