The United Nations estimated on Wednesday that around 3,000 people had been killed during the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to a report from the United Nations, the bodies are still decomposed in the city of Goma, the region's capital I conquered By the M23 Rebels in late January.
Senior United Nations official Vivien Van des Pere, vice chief of Monusco Peacekeeping Mission; I said The situation at Goma remains “very unstable and with a persistent risk of escalation.”
“The main infrastructure of Goma's mission is overwhelming, with both UN staff and Congolese looking for shelter on our premises,” she said.
Van de Pere was particularly interested in the loss of Kavum Airport in Bukabu, another regional capital Had been assaulted By M23 Unit on Wednesday. The rebels began a siege of Bukabu within 48 hours of declaring a “humanitarian ceasefire” that ostensibly allowed food and medical aid to contact civilians in Goma.
According to Van de Pere, “losing airports in both Goma and Bukabu, in the midst of an ongoing humanitarian and internally displaced persons (IDP) crisis, is a ''disappointing'' for civilians in eastern Congo. It's unacceptable.”
“We will repeatedly call for the reopening of Goma Airport as the injured person needs to be evacuated and humanitarian supplies and staff must be brought in,” said Stephen Dujaric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. said.
The situation in Monusco is rapidly worsening amid the military and political turmoil of the DRC, with troops from Uganda and Rwanda and 100 militia groups involved in the conflict. Van des Pere asked for “clear guidance” from the UN Security Council (UNSC) as the situation “literally changes from hour to hour.”
Monusco said on Wednesday that “the joint operation with the Congolese forces has been suspended” and “they have withdrawn from South Kibhu following orders from the Security Council.”
South Kib is a state that counts Bukab as its capital. That's what Monusco is Actively support The Congolese army has been known until now as Fard.
DRC Government I said On Thursday, we ask the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to investigate “massive violations” of Goma's human rights. The DRC hopes the UN will send a “fact-finding mission” to cities as soon as possible.
van de perre I said She especially knew about one atrocity. It's a massive jailbreak at Munzenze prison in Goma, which appears to have been launched after the M23 rebels violated the city's defenses.
Although there is a lack of confirmed details, including solid evidence of whether the M23 caused the breakdown, early reports show that hundreds of female inmates were raped and burned alive in the chaos. It was. M23 refused to allow investigators to visit the site to collect more evidence.
“There was a big prison collapse of 4,000 escaped prisoners. Hundreds of women were in that prison. They were all raped and then they set fire to the women's wings. They all died afterwards. That's it,” Van de Pere said.
M23 held The stadium met in Goma on Thursday, notifying residents who now control the city permanently, explaining that they were “freed and sanitized” by their presence. The rebels controlled Goma with the support of 4,000 troops from nearby Rwanda, which has long supported the M23.
“We bring you security so please sleep well. This is our priority. Starting next week, our kids will be back to school. All state agents will be back to office. M23 political leader Corneil Nanga told the stadium crowd.
Also on Thursday, the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) was suspended at the National Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Goma's lab that studies Ebola and MPOX (Monkeypox), among other dangerous diseases. I've confirmed that it is.
