Catastrophic escalation of humanitarian crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo as fighting resumes

Renewed fighting around the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has led to a catastrophic escalation of the humanitarian crisis displacing hundreds of thousands of people, Oxfam warned today.

As the violence intensifies, families – many of whom have already been displaced several times - have taken refuge in schools and churches in and around Goma. People face a lack of basic essentials but the violence and scale of need is making it extremely difficult for aid agencies to reach people with humanitarian support.

Manenji Mangundu, Country Director of Oxfam in the DRC, said: “Every day, the situation is getting worse. We are seeing first-hand the devastating impact that this conflict is having on vulnerable communities. Some of these families have been displaced for the seventh time, with no immediate means of support.

“The most basic needs for survival — food, clean water, medical care, blankets and protection — are in short supply, and humanitarian aid is yet to reach them.”

Artillery shelling in areas where displaced families were sheltering has caused panic, one site in Goma where 600,000 people were staying has near-emptied.

Without adequate shelter and access to critical resources, the risk of disease outbreaks, including the Mpox virus that has already claimed countless lives in the country, is a real threat.

Oxfam is working to provide people with clean water and basic essentials, and is calling for immediate international support to ensure that these vulnerable communities are not left behind.

ENDS

Contact:

For more information and interviews please contact Zara Sarvarian, press officer at Oxfam GB, on 07584265077, zsarvarian1@oxfam.org.uk

Notes to editor

• According to the official figures, as of March 31, 2024, some 2.67 million people were displaced in North Kivu, including around 600,000 in and around Goma.
• According to the estimates made by humanitarian actors at a crisis meeting held on January 20 in Minova, more than 178,000 people would be newly displaced in the area between 4-20 January, 2025 as a result of the recent clashes.
• The DRC continues to grapple with the devastating impacts of the Mpox outbreak, which has claimed lives further straining an already fragile healthcare system.