Goma faces severe hunger and fear after M23 rebels took over, leaving residents in desperation. With trade routes blocked, access to food and water is critically low. Memories of past occupations add to the current anxiety, as the insurgent group seeks to establish control amid injury and loss. Calls for humanitarian aid are urgent as the situation escalates, with international implications looming.
Residents of Goma, located on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with Rwanda, are experiencing severe hunger and heightened anxiety following the recent takeover by the M23 rebel group. Judith Saima, a 28-year-old merchant, expressed her despair, stating, “We are very afraid. This situation feels hopeless.” Heavy combat previously isolated the city, resulting in abandoned bodies on the streets until the fighting subsided just two days ago.
The blockade of trade and agricultural routes has led to a critical shortage of food. Ngise Ngeleka, a 26-year-old student, recounted the tragic tale of her neighbor, who died from gunfire and remains unburied. Adeline Tuma lamented her family’s dire circumstances, asserting, “We have nothing left to eat. My children cry from hunger. I make porridge without sugar. My shop has been looted. I curse this war. A new, grim chapter of our lives begins.”
The rebels have effectively halted boat travel for supply transport since their occupation of Minova, which borders Lake Kivu. Additionally, access to the Gisenyi border crossing has been obstructed. While the water and electricity were cut off, services slowly resumed over recent days, allowing people to replenish limited water supplies from Lake Kivu.
M23, an ethnic Tutsi-led insurgency, has repeatedly emerged in eastern DRC since the 2003 peace agreement is claimed to have resolved the regional conflicts that caused the deaths of six million people due to hunger and disease. Although Rwanda purports to combat genocide-linked fighters, evidence suggests that it exploits the M23 for access to valuable minerals, vital for technological products.
Amid the conflict, accusations of human rights violations have been leveled against both M23 and the Congolese army. The current occupation evokes serious memories of the group’s previous invasion in 2012, which ended after just ten days due to international pressures. However, the current siege appears far more severe, with residents recalling being forced to hide for days without food.
Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties from the recent clashes, and humanitarian aid efforts have ground to a halt, leaving many internally displaced individuals without assistance for extended periods. The World Health Organization reported at least 45 casualties and over 2,000 injuries around Goma in the last week alone.
In a stark portrayal of urban distress, abandoned military uniforms have been donned by local street children, some of whom have begun looting deserted shops. M23 signaled its intention to govern Goma and restore stability this past Wednesday, with a political representative promising that normal activities would resume and children would return to school within 48 hours, alongside establishing humanitarian access.
Tensions loom as the potential for a return to the 1990s and 2000s arises, with Rwanda and its allied forces seizing control of the eastern DRC for resource management. However, some residents express reluctance to oppose the M23, citing the persistent turmoil under the Congolese government. A senior UN official noted a growing sentiment among residents for improved security and trading opportunities under the insurgent rule.
The article illuminates the dire circumstances faced by the inhabitants of Goma, a city significantly affected by the M23 rebel group’s recent takeover. With trade routes severed, residents confront acute hunger and safety concerns. The historical context of previous conflicts in the region, compounded by external influences from Rwanda, informs the complexity of this ongoing crisis. M23’s presence rekindles memories of previous occupations, leading to heightened fears and uncertainty among the citizens.
In summary, the current situation in Goma represents a significant humanitarian crisis, marked by fear, hunger, and the specter of violence following the M23 rebel group’s occupation. The community’s desperation is palpable, with residents recounting personal tragedies and losses while grappling with the effects of disrupted commerce and essential services. As the conflict unfolds, both the prospects for peace and the involvement of external actors such as Rwanda remain critical to the region’s future stability.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
