Humanitarian Coordinator expresses deep concern over the impact of intensified fighting around Goma on civilians and humanitarian operations
Bruno Lemarquis, Humanitarian Coordinator of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, expressed deep concern about the ongoing fighting in the city of Goma and its increasing impact on civilians.
Since the renewal of the M23 offensive near Goma on 23 January 2025, thousands of people have once again been forced to flee multiple active conflict zones, and reception and assistance capacities have been overstretched. Several displacement sites on the outskirts of Goma were completely emptied of 300,000 people in a matter of hours.
Humanitarian actors, including essential personnel working in Goma, are doing their best to address the needs of the most vulnerable civilians, despite the alarming security situation in displacement sites and in some neighborhoods in the city.
Combat distances from densely populated areas and the use of heavy artillery impose intolerable risks to civilians. Despite support from humanitarian actors, including the ICRC and MSF, emergency capacities at Goma hospitals remain overwhelmed.
As of January 24, 2025, Goma’s Ndosho General Hospital was treating more than 256 injured people, including 90 civilians, most of whom suffered serious injuries from gunfire and shelling. Even after reinforcements provided by humanitarian partners, this far exceeds the hospital’s 146-bed capacity.
On behalf of the humanitarian community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I call on all parties involved in the conflict to immediately cease military escalation. This violence exacerbates the suffering of the population in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and worsens already precarious conditions for civilians. As the UN Secretary-General emphasized on January 23, 2025, emergency de-escalation is crucial.
The humanitarian community urges the international community to step up efforts to address the rapidly worsening humanitarian and security crisis. While awaiting the cessation of hostilities, it calls for a temporary humanitarian pause in the most affected and at-risk areas to facilitate the evacuation of injured and civilians from active combat zones.
On behalf of the humanitarian community, I remind all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law: civilians and basic civilian infrastructure must not be targeted.
All parties to the conflict must ensure unhindered humanitarian access to those in need and guarantee the safe passage of civilians fleeing active war zones. Civilians must be able to receive humanitarian assistance safely and with dignity. This requires humanitarian actors to remain as close as possible to affected populations under conditions that enable them to provide life-saving assistance.
Basic services, including access to water, electricity and health care, must also be restored in the city of Goma to meet the basic needs of the conflict-affected population.
Distributed by Apo Group on behalf of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
