UN emergency relief coordinator seeks world attention to crisis in eastern DRC
New York, United States (PANA) - The ongoing crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is deteriorating rapidly, and if hostilities spill into Goma – a densely populated urban centre – the impact on civilians could be devastating, a UN humanitarian official has warned.
Ms. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, was briefing the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in the DRC.
Speaking on behalf of Mr. Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary, she said that more than 21 million people already need aid across the country – one of the highest numbers worldwide. Approximately one million people had already sought refuge in neighbouring countries. The escalation in the east threatens to make a critical humanitarian situation even worse.
In North and South Kivu, hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured in the last few weeks. Hundreds of thousands have fled their homes or shelters, often multiple times, to escape gunfire and shelling, especially around Saké and Minova.
“Humanitarian access remains constrained due to insecurity,” Msuya said. “Hospitals, including Ndosho and Kyeshero in Goma, are overwhelmed. Medical facilities in Minova are also struggling to tend to the hundreds of people in need of treatment for gunshot and shrapnel wounds.”
Bombings in overcrowded displacement sites in and around Saké and Minova have resulted in casualties – including among children – and destroyed shelters, causing panic and further displacement.
“I am particularly concerned about the impact on women and girls. We already know that gender-based violence increased by 300 per cent in recent years, and that two-thirds of all cases had occurred in the three eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri,” Msuya added.
According to the official, the UN Secretary-General has emphasised the importance of upholding international humanitarian and human rights law and ensuring immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to populations in need.
“We urge all parties to protect civilians and the critical infrastructure they rely on; respect the civilian nature of displacement sites; and avoid using wide-area explosives and heavy weapons in populated areas.
“This will be particularly important should the hostilities spread into Goma given the risks of conflict in urban areas. All parties must take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects throughout military operations.
In these challenging circumstances, Ms. Msuya said: “Our humanitarian partners have bravely and tirelessly continued their efforts to enable life-saving operations by negotiating access, including by providing critical care through our partners, particularly NGOs that deliver medical and food assistance.”
She called on Council members to address this escalating humanitarian crisis before the situation worsens further. She urged the Council and all Member States to leverage their influence to ensure that international humanitarian law is respected by all parties.
Ms. Msuya emphasised that civilians must be protected. IDP sites and medical facilities must be protected. Rapid, unimpeded and safe humanitarian access to those in need must be facilitated.
“Since we are at the start of the year and many funding sources remain unavailable or delayed for various reasons, adequate funding is essential to enable and sustain urgent humanitarian action. In light of the scale and severity of the current situation, we are allocating US$17 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund for immediate life-saving interventions. However, let’s be clear: Additional resources are urgently needed."
“I urge the Council and all Member States to use their influence to end the hostilities,” she added, noting that the scale of suffering in the DRC demands urgent attention. “The plight of the country’s women, men and children cannot continue to go unnoticed.”
-0- PANA AR/MA 27Jan2025
