26 Corpses Found After M23 Rebels Captured Bukavu in DR Congo
The M23 rebels, in collusion with the Rwandan army, continued their advance in South Kivu; after capturing Nyabibwe, Ihusi, Kabamba and Katana, they took control of the Kavumu airport before sieging the Bukavu town.
Amid calls for a ceasefire, the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) captured Bukavu town on Feb. 16, weeks after taking over the affairs in Goma. In a few days, at least 26 corpses were picked on the streets.
On Monday, the DR Congo Red Cross with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) proceeded with the collection of corpses in different parts of the town. According to Francois Moreillon, the chief of the ICRC delegation in the country, a total of 26 corpses were picked by Red Cross volunteers.
The collected corpses have been deposited either in the mortuaries or handed over to their families for identification before dignified burials, the ICRC says in a report.
Normal life has not yet returned to the town of Bukavu which was hit principally by acts of looting following the withdrawal of DR Congo armed forces at a time when the rebels were still in Kavumu. Shops, stores, and other belongings were looted and the main storage facility of the World Food Programme (WFP) was targeted by looters as was the case in Goma.
The M23 rebels, in collusion with the Rwandan army, continued their advance in South Kivu; after capturing Nyabibwe, Ihusi, Kabamba and Katana, they took control of the Kavumu airport before sieging the Bukavu town.
For the past three weeks, the intensification of fighting and the capture of localities by the rebels have resulted in the heavy loss of human lives. More than 3,000 persons lost their lives in Goma during four days of the fighting. Scenes of looting, wounded persons, and difficult living conditions have accentuated the disastrous humanitarian situation.
The M23 rebels captured Bukavu town in the Democratic Republic of Congo amidst calls for a ceasefire, following their takeover of Goma.
The DR Congo Red Cross, with the ICRC's support, collected 26 corpses from Bukavu's streets. These bodies were taken to mortuaries or returned to families for identification and burial.
The town remains unstable due to looting after the withdrawal of DR Congo armed forces.
The rebels, collaborating with the Rwandan army, advanced and captured several areas before sieging Bukavu. The intensified conflict has led to over 3,000 deaths in nearby Goma, highlighting a dire humanitarian crisis marked by looting and inadequate living conditions.
Support Our Journalism
There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.
To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.
Your donation will further promote a robust, free, and independent media.
Donate Here
