GENEVA – The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) expressed deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Friday, as ongoing fighting has left around 350,000 displaced people without shelter.
The Rwandan-backed M23 rebels captured Goma, the region’s largest city, last month and continue to advance south, exacerbating fears of a wider humanitarian catastrophe. UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun reported that around 70% of Goma’s displacement camps have been destroyed, forcing people into makeshift shelters, churches, and hospitals. The spread of disease and rising crime have further compounded the crisis.
Meanwhile, in a separate attack by the CODECO militia, over 80 civilians were killed in eastern Congo this week. The militia, one of many groups fighting over land and resources, has frequently targeted displacement camps.
The recent wave of violence has led to at least 3,000 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands. The DRC, the UN, and Western nations have accused Rwanda of backing M23 rebels, though Kigali denies the allegations.