The city of Goma, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, is facing a humanitarian catastrophe after being seized by the M23 rebel group, backed by Rwanda.

Thousands of wounded are overwhelming hospitals, while food and water supplies are running dangerously low.

Overcrowded Hospitals and Shortage of Supplies

Since the M23 offensive began on January 26, more than 700 people have been killed and nearly 3,000 wounded, according to Congolese authorities.

At Bethesda Hospital, which has 250 beds, more than 100 new patients arrive daily. Operating room nurse Florence Douet warned:

“They will get infected before we can treat them all.”

Kyeshero Hospital is also overwhelmed, operating at 200% capacity. Surgeon Johnny Kasangati reported:

“Yesterday, we extracted 48 bullets from wounded patients.”

With bodies abandoned in the streets and morgues overflowing, fears of epidemic outbreaks are growing in a region already battling monkeypox and cholera.

Collapse of Services and Food Crisis

Goma is home to many of the 6.5 million displaced people affected by the conflict. The violence has disrupted supply chains, leaving the city without adequate food, water, or medical supplies.

“This war has caused so much harm, but at least we are still breathing,” said Patrick Bagamuhunda, who was wounded in the fighting.

The displacement camps on Goma’s outskirts have been destroyed by the M23 rebels, leaving hundreds of thousands without shelter.

M23: The Most Powerful Rebel Force

The M23 is backed by 4,000 Rwandan soldiers, according to UN experts, a significant increase compared to their 2012 capture of Goma. Unlike in 2012, when the rebels briefly seized the city, they now plan to march toward Kinshasa, Congo’s capital.

The conflict has deep ethnic roots:

• M23 claims to defend the Tutsi population in DR Congo.
• Rwanda argues that Tutsis are persecuted by Hutus and former militias responsible for the 1994 genocide.

Fear of Epidemics and an Uncertain Future

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about the risk of major disease outbreaks, as mass displacement could fuel the spread of cholera and measles.

“There is a fear that disease will spread widely in communities, but we do not know because we have not been able to reach them,” said Boureima Hama Sambo, WHO representative in DR Congo.

Despite the severe humanitarian crisis, life is slowly resuming in Goma. On Sunday, businesses in some neighborhoods reopened, and roads to the north and south became accessible again, allowing movement within the city.

However, with hospitals at capacity, food shortages worsening, and thousands of displaced people left homeless, Goma remains in an unprecedented crisis.

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