DRC: “Goma was cut off from the world, it was a total blackout” - Virginie Napolitano
This week, the fighting between M23, the Congolese army and their respective allies reached the city centre of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams have reoriented part of their activities to respond to emergency needs, such as caring for war-wounded people. Virginie Napolitano, MSF emergency coordinator in Goma, describes the situation in the city.
This week, the situation was very chaotic. In the beginning, there were clashes with artillery. We also heard a lot of gunshots crackling in the city, very close to homes and workplaces. When we finally managed to go out for our activities, we saw military uniforms lying around in the streets, as well as many gun shells. There were also a lot of weapons in the streets, some of which were recovered by people or armed groups.
We know that there has been a lot of looting in the city. Many international organisations' stocks have been affected, including those of MSF. They contained humanitarian supplies, such as medicines, which allow NGOs to work, particularly in the displaced persons camps. Most humanitarian organisations can no longer work.
Chaotic situation
Goma has some two million inhabitants, to which must be added more than 650,000 people displaced by the fighting in recent months or years who live near the city in unsanitary camps. MSF only has minimal medicines and has stopped intervening in these camps for now, even though we could go there on Thursday. Some MSF teams have donated to hospitals, including medical care kits, fuel, and water, to Virunga General Referral Hospital in Goma.
The electricity was completely cut off in the city for almost a week, which added to the general chaos. Goma was cut off from the world; it was a total blackout. The water was also cut off; until now, many people do not have access to drinking water. The inhabitants of Goma and the displaced people who have joined the city to flee the fighting are forced to go to Lake Kivu to fill water cans. Fortunately, the National Red Cross is on site. Their work allows people to chlorinate these water cans to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases, such as cholera. Despite these interventions, on Thursday, 30 January, we learned that several cases of cholera had been reported in Goma. MSF teams are starting to work in support of the treatment of people suffering from this disease and on water and sanitation in the city.
.jpeg "Virginie Napolitano, MSF emergency coordinator in Goma, describes the situation in the city")
Before the fighting broke out in the city, MSF teams were working in Kyeshero Hospital, located in the western part of the city, in support of the Ministry of Health. They were providing care for malnourished children, most of whom came from the displaced people camps near the city. We quickly put in place a plan for a mass influx of wounded, in particular, to support the International Committee of the Red Cross’s (ICRC) work in Ndosho Hospital. The latter is overwhelmed by the number of wounded that need to be treated.
As early as 23 January, the first wounded began to arrive at the hospital or to be transferred to us by the ICRC. In one day alone, Wednesday, 29 January, we received nearly 140 wounded at the hospital triage, many of whom were hospitalised. This was the first day that the fighting had eased. This allowed the wounded, who had stayed at home and could not access care, to go to a hospital.
At the beginning of the M23 offensive on Goma, we received patients who were mostly injured by shrapnel. Recently, the patients we treated were mainly wounded by bullets, including civilians hit by stray bullets. These are often people who were close to the fighting and were unable to protect themselves or people who were injured while they were at home. The bullets went through the wooden walls of their houses. We have also received people who were taking part in the fighting, soldiers or their allies.
Currently, the morgue at Kyeshero Hospital is overflowing with bodies. There are nearly 40 of them, most of which are unidentified. We are discussing with the Ministry of Health to organise dignified burials for these people. The morgues at other hospitals in Goma are also overwhelmed. We also know that the collection of bodies is not finished, the Red Cross and civil protection continue this work. Death toll can only be made when the clashes and urban violence have completely ceased and this work carried out by the Red Cross will be finished.
War wounded
Kyeshero Hospital is overwhelmed by the number of wounded, even though the MSF teams and those from the Ministry of Health are doing their best. They were used to treating malnourished children and after the implementation of the plan for the mass influx of wounded, found themselves treating war wounded. In this hospital, we lack medicines but also staff, particularly those specialising in surgery.
Some of the hospital staff were unable to come to work because of the fighting in the city. Those who had already been there since Sunday provided all the treatment by staying there for four days in a row, without being able to sleep properly. Our activities were heavily affected by the fact that we were not able to move around and bring medical equipment, medicines, and food to the patients.
The most urgent thing for MSF is to be able to replenish our stocks of medical equipment and medicines as quickly as possible, and to bring in specialised staff, particularly to increase surgical care. A surgeon and an anesthesiologist should arrive in Kyeshero this Friday, 31 January, which would allow us to increase treatment capacities.
On Thursday, 30 January, we managed to go to some displaced persons camps located to the west of the city. The situations are quite different in these camps, but in the Kashaka camp, people were particularly worried, particularly following the numerous lootings in the city.
On the other hand, this chaotic situation adds to the trauma of their displacement since they had already fled the fighting between M23, the Congolese army, and their respective allies. Displaced people no longer feel safe. Some have started dismantling their shelters and leaving the camps, hoping to find some safety elsewhere. Those who remain are wondering whether they will be able to, or will be forced to by armed groups, return home.
Our Activities in Democratic Republic of Congo
Before the fighting broke out in the Goma, MSF teams were working in Kyeshero Hospital, located in the western part of the city, supporting the Ministry of Health. They were providing care for malnourished children, most of whom came from the displaced people camps near the city. When fighting broke out in the city in the last week of January, MSF quickly put in place a plan for a mass influx of wounded, in particular, to support the International Committee of the Red Cross’s (ICRC) work in Ndosho Hospital. Photographer: Michel Lunanga | Location: Goma, DRC | 30/01/2025
Before the fighting broke out in the Goma, MSF teams were working in Kyeshero Hospital, located in the western part of the city, supporting the Ministry of Health. They were providing care for malnourished children, most of whom came from the displaced people camps near the city. When fighting broke out in the city in the last week of January, MSF quickly put in place a plan for a mass influx of wounded, in particular, to support the International Committee of the Red Cross’s (ICRC) work in Ndosho Hospital. Photographer: Michel Lunanga | Location: Goma, DRC | 30/01/2025
Before the fighting broke out in the Goma, MSF teams were working in Kyeshero Hospital, located in the western part of the city, supporting the Ministry of Health. They were providing care for malnourished children, most of whom came from the displaced people camps near the city. When fighting broke out in the city in the last week of January, MSF quickly put in place a plan for a mass influx of wounded, in particular, to support the International Committee of the Red Cross’s (ICRC) work in Ndosho Hospital. Photographer: Michel Lunanga | Location: Goma, DRC | 30/01/2025
Before the fighting broke out in the Goma, MSF teams were working in Kyeshero Hospital, located in the western part of the city, supporting the Ministry of Health. They were providing care for malnourished children, most of whom came from the displaced people camps near the city. When fighting broke out in the city in the last week of January, MSF quickly put in place a plan for a mass influx of wounded, in particular, to support the International Committee of the Red Cross’s (ICRC) work in Ndosho Hospital. Photographer: Michel Lunanga | Location: Goma, DRC | 30/01/2025About Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is a global network of principled medical and other professionals who specialise in medical humanitarian work, driven by our common humanity and guided by medical ethics. We strive to bring emergency medical care to people caught in conflicts, crises, and disasters in more than 70 countries worldwide.
In South Africa, the organisation is recognised as one of the pioneers in providing antiretroviral treatment (ART) in the public sector. It started the first HIV programme in South Africa in 1999. Until today, the focus of MSF’s interventions in the country has primarily been on developing new testing and treatment strategies for HIV/AIDS and TB in Eshowe (Kwa-Zulu Natal) and Khayelitsha (Western Cape).
In Tshwane, we run a migration project, and we offer medical and psychosocial care to migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers who struggle to access public health services under South Africa’s increasingly restrictive.
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