Thousands taking refuge in hospital as conflict escalates in Democratic Republic of Congo | CNN

CNN
 — 

In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), thousands of people are seeking shelter inside an “overwhelmed” hospital amid an escalation of fighting in North Kivu province, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned on Thursday.

Around 2,500 people, including children, are currently sheltering in Mweso Hospital, located approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the provincial capital Goma. MSF stated that medical facilities have seen a significant influx of war-wounded patients.

“The hospital is overwhelmed, with thousands of people crowded inside, seeking protection from the fighting. We are working alongside the Ministry of Health to assist everyone, but there is an insufficient supply of necessities, such as food,” said MSF project coordinator Çaglar Tahiroglu.

As the ongoing wave of fighting between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army intensifies, numerous civilians are fleeing. Save The Children revealed that at least 150,000 people, including 78,000 children, have been compelled to leave their homes in the past week, with thousands now on the path to Goma.

Following a visit to the province this week, the United Nations under-secretary-general for peace operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, urged the M23 group to immediately halt its offensive.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO, is expected to complete its withdrawal from the central African country this year. In recent years, there have been protests demanding the removal of UN forces for their failure to control rebel groups, including M23.

In September last year, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi stated that it was “illusory and counterproductive to continue to cling to… MONUSCO to restore peace… and stability” in the country.

Since March 2022, an upsurge in armed clashes in North Kivu province has forced over one million people from their homes and led to a humanitarian catastrophe, according to MSF.

The M23 group was named after a peace deal on March 23, 2009, which they accused the government of violating. The soldiers, primarily Tutsis, became part of the national army through that agreement. The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing the group, a claim vehemently denied by the Rwandan government.

Author: OpenAI