More than 700 people have been killed and 2,800 injured in just five days as violence escalates in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations has reported.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the figures, recorded between January 26 and 30, were based on an assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners in coordination with the Congolese government. He warned that the toll is expected to rise.
“Humanitarian organizations in Goma continue to assess the impact of the crisis, including widespread looting of warehouses and aid offices,” Dujarric added.
Goma, the largest city in North Kivu province, has reportedly fallen under the control of the Alliance of Congolese Forces (AFC) and M23 rebels, the group told CNN. However, the Congolese government—while acknowledging that the city is under siege—has not confirmed its capture. Authorities continue to accuse Rwanda of backing M23, a charge Kigali denies.
Amid the worsening security situation, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi on Wednesday pledged “a vigorous and coordinated response” to reclaim besieged territories in the mineral-rich east, where hundreds of local troops have surrendered to the rebel alliance.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, described the situation in Goma as “tense” with “occasional shooting,” though he noted that “overall calm is gradually being restored.”
However, concerns are growing as rebel forces advance rapidly and are now just 60 kilometers north of Bukavu, another major city.
Experts warn that the continued fighting could exacerbate shortages of essential supplies and increase the risk of disease outbreaks. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Friday that access to safe drinking water in Goma has been cut off, forcing residents to rely on untreated water from Lake Kivu.
“Without urgent action, the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks will continue to rise,” Dujarric cautioned.
With the humanitarian situation deteriorating and tensions escalating, international organizations are calling for immediate intervention to prevent further loss of life and displacement in the region.