Synopsis
On February 8, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema expressed his commitment to collaborating with other African leaders to ensure peace and stability in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This commitment coincides with an upcoming summit aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in the region.Key Takeaways
- Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is focused on peace in the DRC.
- Collaboration with African leaders is key for stability.
- Upcoming summit will address conflict resolution.
- Ongoing violence leads to humanitarian crises.
- Health services in North Kivu are severely impacted.
Lusaka, Feb 8 (NationPress) Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is dedicated to working alongside fellow African leaders to promote peace, security, and stability in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a high-ranking government official stated.
Jack Mwiimbu, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, mentioned that Hichilema will participate with other leaders in Tanzania for a collective summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) this Saturday.
According to Mwiimbu, the purpose of the summit is to find common solutions to the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.
The meeting will be co-chaired by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, chairperson of SADC, and Kenyan President William Ruto, chairperson of EAC.
Previously, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that a bombing in South Kivu injured three civilians and damaged power infrastructure in Nyabibwe, located about 60 km north of the provincial capital, Bukavu.
Ongoing conflicts in South Kivu are causing mass displacements and civilian casualties. Thousands are fleeing active combat zones towards Bukavu, which faces the threat of an M23 rebel assault.
UN humanitarian officials are evaluating the situation in and around Goma, where hundreds of thousands remain displaced.
Moreover, it has been reported that three NGO workers were killed in a bombing in North Kivu, leading to the halt of food and agricultural assistance in the region.
OCHA estimates reveal that nearly 33,000 people have returned to villages in Nyiragongo Territory, just northeast of Goma, as noted by the Xinhua news agency.
Simultaneously, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that many medical facilities in North Kivu have been destroyed due to previous conflicts, while others are struggling to resume operations. Essential health services for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and mental health are also impacted, as medicines have run out and healthcare workers are either absent or overworked.
The risk of infectious diseases has surged, with cholera, malaria, measles, meningitis, mpox, and tuberculosis posing significant threats in the region. From January 1-27, nearly 600 suspected cholera cases and 14 deaths were reported in North Kivu.
Water supply in Goma was disrupted but has been partially restored in some areas, forcing residents to use water from Lake Kivu and increasing the risk of cholera.
