Crisis in DR Congo Worsens as Conflict Disrupts Humanitarian Aid
The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to deteriorate as escalating violence forces people to flee to areas where aid cannot reach, warned the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). “The crisis is worsening as people flee to areas where humanitarian aid cannot reach due to insecurity,” said UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun during a briefing in Geneva.
This warning follows an earlier statement by the UN’s top aid official in the DRC, Bruno Lemarquis, who cautioned that dwindling humanitarian access was severely impacting relief efforts in the region.
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Rebels Advance Towards Bukavu
After capturing North Kivu’s capital, Goma, last month, rebel forces are now pushing towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, following a brief pause in fighting.
Ms. Byun highlighted that in South Kivu, more than half of the aid organizations supporting survivors of sexual violence are unable to operate due to ongoing insecurity and displacement.
In North Kivu, essential healthcare services are collapsing. “The destruction of health facilities, including mortuaries, and overcrowded hospitals increase the risk of spreading infectious diseases, including cholera, malaria, and measles,” she noted.
The situation has been exacerbated by “heavy artillery shelling and looting,” which have destroyed 70,000 emergency shelters in and around Goma and Minova, leaving approximately 350,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) without shelter.
While around 100,000 displaced persons have attempted to return home, they have been met with extensive destruction and lack of services, forcing many to remain trapped in dire conditions, Ms. Byun explained.
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Unexploded Ordnance Prevents Safe Return
The presence of unexploded ordnance left behind by the fighting poses a significant hazard for those trying to return.
Ms. Byun expressed concern that these individuals “will be displaced once again,” as ongoing conflict and security threats prevent them from resettling.
Furthermore, most of the 28 IDP camps near Goma have been destroyed, and one of the biggest logistical challenges is the severed road link between Goma and Bukavu.
Adding to the difficulties, Goma’s airport remains inoperative for humanitarian aid, crippling efforts to deliver urgent assistance.
“With violence spreading into South Kivu, securing this supply route is our biggest concern,” she emphasized.
The UN’s Bruno Lemarquis also warned about the vulnerability of South Kivu’s main airport, located just 20 miles from Bukavu. Until recently, this airport had served as a critical hub for humanitarian personnel and supplies.
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Mpox Outbreak Worsens Amid Conflict
The World Health Organization (WHO) raised alarms about the worsening mpox outbreak in the DRC due to recent fighting, particularly in Goma and surrounding areas.
Spokesperson Christian Lindmeier revealed that the DRC remains the hardest-hit country for mpox, with Kivu being the epicenter of the highly infectious clade 1b outbreak.
Last year, WHO declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern for the second time, amid fears of rapid transmission.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had previously noted that mpox cases were stabilizing in eastern DRC. However, the resurgence of violence has forced patients to abandon treatment centers, heightening the risk of further infections.
Out of 143 confirmed mpox patients receiving care in isolation units around Goma, 128 have fled, leaving only 15 under medical supervision.
“That’s of course dangerous for everybody around,” Lindmeier warned, stressing that the uncontrolled spread of the disease could have devastating consequences.
The crisis has been aggravated by looting of medical facilities, the displacement of healthcare workers, and limited access to medical treatment due to the worsening security situation.
As conflict rages and humanitarian access remains blocked, the outlook for displaced populations and those in need of urgent medical care continues to grow bleaker.
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