The humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached alarming levels, according to a recent United Nations report. Fighting between the Congolese Army and the M23 armed group, allegedly supported by Rwanda, has escalated into the city of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu in eastern DRC. Goma is home to around two million people, including many internally displaced individuals.

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The conflict has brought new waves of violence and displacement to Goma. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, described the situation as “volatile and dangerous,” warning of the potential for a broader humanitarian catastrophe.

Currently, the DRC has over 6.5 million displaced people, with nearly 3 million located in North Kivu province, the epicenter of the crisis.

Bruno Lemarquis, the UN’s Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for the DRC, expressed grave concerns over the conditions in Goma, noting a significant escalation in violence and suffering as fighting spreads across the city.

Civilians have borne the brunt of the escalating conflict. Hospitals in Goma are overwhelmed with injured patients, while essential services such as water, electricity, and internet have been severely disrupted. Though phone networks remain operational, their unreliability hampers humanitarian coordination and response efforts.

Despite the challenges, Lacroix confirmed that the UN stabilization mission, MONUSCO, continues to work to protect civilians and stabilize the region by disarming combatants in line with international humanitarian law.

The United Nations has called for temporary humanitarian pauses to allow the safe evacuation of civilians and the delivery of aid to those in desperate need. In addition, the announcement of a meeting by the African Union’s Peace and Security Council has raised hopes for diplomatic progress in resolving the crisis.

After another intense night of fighting between the Congolese Army and M23, the situation in Goma remains unclear. Residents have reported sightings of M23 fighters patrolling streets in western parts of the city, while Congolese soldiers are believed to retain control of areas near the airport.

Families confined to their homes are struggling to survive. Some manage to charge their phones using solar panels, while others remain completely isolated.

Social groups have called on both the Congolese Army and M23 to allow urgent repairs to electric lines and restore essential services.

The ongoing conflict has also taken a toll on UN peacekeepers. The South African Department of Defence reported the deaths of four additional South African troops on Monday, raising the total number of South African fatalities in the UN stabilization mission to 13.

As thousands of families flee Goma with minimal belongings, the crisis in the DRC continues to escalate, requiring urgent international attention and action.

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