The United Nations has raised alarm over the deepening humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where ongoing fighting has left around 350,000 displaced people without shelter.
Rwandan-backed M23 rebels captured the region’s largest city, Goma, last month and have continued their advance southward, sparking fears of a broader catastrophe in an already fragile area.
UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun said in a Geneva briefing that at least 70,000 emergency shelters in and around Goma and Minova had been destroyed, leaving thousands exposed. Unexploded munitions have also made it unsafe for many to return home.
“Hundreds of thousands are now living in makeshift accommodations, including churches and hospitals,” Byun warned.
With about 70% of Goma’s camps destroyed and others in Minova badly damaged, the humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating. Aid agencies are struggling to deliver assistance due to ongoing violence, while crime and the risk of disease outbreaks are rising.
“In South Kivu, over 50% of organizations providing essential services, including support for survivors of sexual violence, are unable to reach those in need,” Byun added.
Meanwhile, the U.N. peacekeeping mission MONUSCO reported that more than 80 civilians were killed this week in a late-night attack by the CODECO militia on villages in eastern Congo. CODECO, one of many armed groups vying for land and resources, has repeatedly targeted displacement camps that have grown in size since M23 began its offensive.
Congo, along with the U.N. and Western governments, has accused Rwanda of backing M23 with troops and weapons—an allegation Kigali denies.
The conflict has killed at least 3,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in recent months.