North Kivu : MSF warns of a humanitarian crisis in the eastern part of the DRC following insecurity

A humanitarian disaster is underway in the province of North Kivu in eastern DRC, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned. This international medical organization calls on the international community and Congolese authorities to redouble their efforts to meet the needs of the populations affected by the armed clashes. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Around one million people have fled fighting linked to the resurgence of the M23 armed group in North Kivu over the past year. The humanitarian response has so far been largely insufficient, MSF said.

Highly vulnerable people are exposed to health risks, including cholera, measles, malnutrition and sexual violence.

“The crisis in North Kivu has become shocking in its scale and severity, but the humanitarian response is far too slow in too many places”, said Avril Benoît, executive director of MSF-USA, currently based in Goma.

“There is a glaring lack of aid to meet people’s basic needs for shelter, medicine, food and drinking water. We see that the health consequences are enormous and continue to make the situation worse”, she added.

Over the past few months, hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and villages in order to live with host families or in informal sites. Around Goma, the capital of North Kivu, makeshift tents made of plastic sheeting or mosquito nets stretch as far as the eye can see, while other people are sheltering in churches and schools.

MSF teams have been working in informal displacement sites around Goma since May 2022, providing free medical care, trucking in drinking water, and constructing latrines and showers.

Fighting continues to be reported in different parts of North Kivu despite the ongoing ceasefire, each time causing massive population displacements.