Hospitals Overwhelmed with Wounded Civilians after Days of Violent Clash in DR Congo
Most of the victims are civilians who were hit by stray bullets and heavy artillery explosions amid the violent clashes between the country’s soldiers and the M23 rebels in North Kivu.
Over one thousand persons have been wounded during the battle over Goma town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Bruno Lemarquis, announced that most of the victims are civilians who were hit by stray bullets and heavy artillery explosions amid the violent clashes between the country’s soldiers and the M23 rebels in North Kivu.
Despite efforts by medical structures supported by the French humanitarian organisation, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the hospitals have been overwhelmed.
“The lack of medicines, equipment and personnel puts in danger the treatment of the wounded and increases the risk of loss of human lives,” Bruno warned, calling for an urgent response by the international community.
The medical infrastructures in Goma, which have already been weakened by years of conflict, are finding it difficult to absorb the influx of patients. Several hospitals have shortages in surgical material, antibiotics and blood, complicating emergency operations. MSF and ICRC are struggling to reinforce capacities but the security conditions are hindering transportation of medical assistance.
Goma also faces a rapid deterioration of living conditions. Portable water and electricity remain cut for several days, forcing thousands of inhabitants to carry water from the untreated waters of Lake Kivu, increasing the risks of illnesses such as cholera.
Mortuaries are saturated and corpses line the streets, posing serious sanitary risks to survivors.
“The humanitarian needs are massive and the response capacity is seriously affected,” Bruno said, reiterating the urgency of an international mobilisation to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.
Over a thousand people have been injured in the battle over Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with most victims being civilians affected by stray bullets and artillery explosions during clashes between the military and M23 rebels. Bruno Lemarquis from the United Nations highlighted the dire situation in Goma, where medical facilities, already strained by ongoing conflicts, are overwhelmed and lack essential supplies and staff, posing significant risks to the wounded.
Efforts by organizations like MSF, ICRC, and WHO are being hampered by insecure conditions preventing the delivery of medical aid. Additionally, Goma's living conditions are deteriorating rapidly, with extended cuts in water and electricity forcing residents to draw water from untreated sources, heightening the risk of diseases like cholera. The situation is worsened by saturated mortuaries and corpses lining the streets, creating severe sanitation threats. Bruno emphasized the urgent need for international action to prevent a humanitarian disaster.
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