AfricaNews

Dire Food Crisis Grips Goma as M23 Rebels Occupy City

The city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo finds itself gripped by an escalating humanitarian crisis in the wake of the M23 rebel group’s takeover earlier this week. As the conflict severed crucial supply routes, residents now face the grim reality of acute hunger and growing desperation.

A City Paralyzed by Fear and Hunger

The streets of Goma, once bustling with life, now bear the scars of the rebel occupation. Bodies lie uncollected, a somber reminder of the human toll exacted by the fighting. For those who survive, each day brings new trials as access to food and essential supplies dwindles.

Judith Saima, a 28-year-old merchant in Goma, paints a bleak picture: “We are very afraid. This situation feels hopeless.” Her words echo the sentiments of countless others trapped in a city held hostage by conflict and scarcity.

Cut Off from the World

The M23’s advance has effectively isolated Goma, severing vital trade and agricultural supply routes. The port town of Minova, a lifeline for the city, now lies under rebel control, while the border crossing to Gisenyi in Rwanda remains blocked. The result is a population teetering on the brink of starvation.

“If this continues, we will all die, either from stray bullets or starvation,” laments Ngise Ngeleka, a 26-year-old student living in the ULPG neighborhood.

For Adeline Tuma, a mother of four, the situation is beyond dire. “We have nothing left to eat,” she shares, her voice heavy with despair. “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.”

A Race Against Time

As the days stretch on, the toll on Goma’s residents grows ever more severe. Hospitals, overwhelmed by the influx of injured, struggle to cope with dwindling supplies. Aid efforts, paralyzed by the fighting, have left internally displaced people without the support they so desperately need.

Rose Tchwenko, Mercy Corps country director for DRC, underscores the urgency of the situation: “Although there are signs of reprieve in Goma after days of intense fighting, the need for shelter, food, water, medical supplies, and protection in the city remains overwhelming. We are now in a race against time to save lives.”

Echoes of a Painful Past

For many in Goma, the M23’s occupation brings back haunting memories of the group’s 2012 seizure of the city. Yet, as Elisabeth Sikuli recounts, this time feels different, more catastrophic: “In 2012, they entered in broad daylight. We heard a few bombs, but the clashes didn’t last long. This time, the situation is far worse. We spent three days hiding under our beds, without food.”

As the international community watches, the people of Goma find themselves caught in a web of geopolitical interests and proxy conflicts. The M23, backed by Rwanda, advances its agenda while the Congolese government struggles to mount an effective response.

A Glimmer of Hope

Amidst the darkness, glimmers of hope emerge. The reopening of the border with Rwanda and the restoration of power and mobile data services in some districts signal the M23’s attempts to restore a semblance of normalcy. Yet, for the hungry and traumatized residents of Goma, true relief remains elusive.

As urgent pleas for aid echo through the streets, the world must not turn a blind eye to the unfolding crisis in Goma. The lives of countless innocent civilians hang in the balance, their futures shaped by the decisions and actions of those with the power to intervene.

In this race against time, every moment counts. The international community must mobilize, cutting through the complex web of interests and agendas, to bring relief to the suffering and hope to the despairing. For the people of Goma, trapped in a city on the brink, the world’s response may mean the difference between life and death.