GOMA, Congo — Over the past few weeks, the city of Goma, located in Eastern Congo, has seen a dramatic increase in the number of injured civilians arriving at its crowded hospitals due to ongoing violence. The unrest stems from clashes between government troops and the M23 rebels, who have received support from Rwanda and have taken control of this populous city, home to around 2 million residents.
Florence Douet, a nurse at Bethesda Hospital, expressed her concerns regarding the overwhelming number of patients. “They will get infected before we can treat them all,” she noted, emphasizing the severity of the situation as she attended to various patients suffering from a range of serious injuries. Since M23’s assault on Goma commenced on January 26, officials report over 700 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries, with Bethesda Hospital alone admitting more than 100 new patients daily, far exceeding its 250-bed capacity.
During an on-site visit at different hospitals in Goma, it was evident that medical facilities were dealing with severe shortages of both staff and medical supplies. Many of the roughly 6.5 million people displaced by the ongoing conflict are now finding refuge in Goma, making it part of one of the most significant humanitarian crises in the world today.
The hospitals’ influx of patients has resulted in extreme overcrowding, where many victims lay on floors or shared what few beds remained available, all while waiting in agony for assistance. Patrick Bagamuhunda, one of the injured, described this conflict as unprecedented in his experience. “This war has caused a lot of damage, but at least we are still breathing,” he remarked, highlighting a sense of resilience amid the chaos.
The M23 rebels are believed to be supported by approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops, a significant increase compared to their previous incursion in 2012, when they seized Goma before retreating in the face of international pressure. This time, the rebels have reportedly stated their intention to advance to Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, which is approximately 1,000 miles away, claiming that the country operates as a failed state under President Félix Tshisekedi.
The conflict has deep roots linked to decades of ethnic violence in the region, with M23 claiming to defend the rights of ethnic Tutsis. Rwanda maintains that Tutsis in Congo are being persecuted by Hutu groups and former militias, which were responsible for the 1994 genocide. Many Hutus, fleeing into Congo post-genocide, established the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia, which Rwanda alleges is integrated into the Congolese military—a claim that the military denies.
Meanwhile, at Kyeshero Hospital, medical staff report an uptick in the number of patients requiring treatment for gunshot injuries. Surgeon Johnny Kasangati shared the alarming figure of 48 bullets removed in a single day from patients, while the hospital operates at over 200% capacity at times, as described by Joseph Amadomon Sagara, a project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders.
Previously, hospitals would transport severely injured patients by boat to South Kivu’s main city, Bukavu, about 111 miles away; however, transportation across Lake Kivu has been halted amid the escalating violence, and road access has largely been obstructed as well. The fighting in and around Goma has also hindered supply chains, causing significant shortages of medical resources essential for aid organizations. Previously, goods were brought into Goma through its international airport, which is now under the control of the rebels.
“Goma was cut off from the world. It was a total blackout,” explained Virginie Napolitano, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Goma, further indicating that stockpiles along with other aid caches have been looted. “We’re getting by with what we had in the cabinets, but I don’t know for how long,” she added, expressing concern for the dwindling resources available for patient care.
The government has confirmed that at least 773 fatalities and 2,880 injuries have been reported at local morgues and hospitals, with fears that the actual death toll could be higher due to potential undiscovered mass graves. The Maternité de la Charité Hospital has also faced difficulties in managing the deceased. Medical Director Jules Kafitiye reported that the facility housed 66 bodies, out of which 56 had to be transferred to another hospital with more expansive morgue space. He expressed the urgency of avoiding risks of decomposition from insufficient storage for the deceased.
There are growing concerns about potential disease outbreaks in Goma, especially with the sight of multiple bodies in streets and hospitals after the city’s takeover. This region is particularly vulnerable as it is already grappling with mpox and cholera outbreaks. The U.N. health agency previously warned that the ongoing displacement crisis has created conditions ripe for the spread of endemic diseases within camps and their surrounding communities. Cholera alone affected over 22,000 individuals last year, while measles impacted nearly that many. Dr. Boureima Hama Sambo, the World Health Organization’s representative in Congo, expressed concern, saying, “There’s a fear for the disease to be spreading widely in communities,” while admitting that information has been hard to gather.
