Synopsis
As violence in Goma City subsides, escalating hostilities in South Kivu are causing mass displacement of people. The UN reports injuries from bombings and a humanitarian crisis as residents flee towards Bukavu amid rising threats.Key Takeaways
- Ongoing violence in South Kivu is causing significant civilian displacement.
- A bombing in Nyabibwe injured civilians and damaged infrastructure.
- Hundreds of thousands are still displaced in and around Goma.
- Health services are severely impacted due to destroyed facilities.
- WHO is providing emergency supplies, but resources are dwindling.
United Nations, Feb 8 (NationPress) As the violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)'s Goma City in North Kivu province diminishes, humanitarian groups from the UN have reported a troubling rise in hostilities within South Kivu, resulting in significant displacement of residents.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated that a recent bombing in the town of Nyabibwe, located approximately 60 km north of the provincial capital, Bukavu, left three civilians injured and caused damage to essential power infrastructure, according to Xinhua news agency.
Ongoing skirmishes in South Kivu are causing extensive civilian displacement and casualties. Many individuals are fleeing active conflict zones towards Bukavu, which faces a potential threat from M23 rebel forces.
UN humanitarian efforts are currently focused on evaluating the situation in and around Goma, where hundreds of thousands remain displaced.
In a concerning development, three workers from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were reported killed in a bombing incident on Wednesday in North Kivu, prompting a halt to food and agricultural assistance in the region.
OCHA estimates suggest that nearly 33,000 individuals have returned to their villages in Nyiragongo Territory, situated northeast of Goma.
Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported extensive destruction of medical facilities in North Kivu due to prior conflicts, with some facilities struggling to resume normal operations. Routine healthcare services for conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and mental health are severely disrupted due to a shortage of medicines and the absence of health workers.
The risk of infectious diseases has surged, with cholera, malaria, measles, meningitis, mpox, and tuberculosis posing significant threats. From January 1-27, there were nearly 600 suspected cholera cases and 14 reported deaths in North Kivu.
Water supply in Goma has faced interruptions, although partial restoration has occurred in some areas. The reliance on water from Lake Kivu has increased the risk of cholera outbreaks.
In response, WHO has dispatched emergency medical supplies, hygiene kits, water treatment equipment, and tents to expand hospital capacity by 1,000 beds. However, supplies are quickly running low, necessitating immediate additional resources.
