Hospitals in Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, are overwhelmed with wounded patients as dead bodies line the streets following a major escalation of the conflict involving Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The United Nations and aid agencies painted a grim picture on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, as reports of gunfire and mortar attacks continued to pour in from the city.
Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office, confirmed that small arms and mortar fire persisted in Goma a day after the M23 rebels entered the city, intensifying a three-decade-long conflict. “The humanitarian situation in and around Goma remains extremely worrying. Hospitals are struggling to manage the influx of patients with gunshot and shrapnel wounds, while many dead bodies are scattered across the streets,” Laerke said during a Geneva briefing.
Adelheid Marschang, the World Health Organization’s emergency response coordinator for Congo, revealed that hundreds of people have been admitted to hospitals with severe injuries. “Health workers are being targeted, and even babies are caught in the crossfire,” she said. Over the weekend, the UN agency counted between 600 and 700 wounded patients across hospitals in Goma, highlighting the dire state of healthcare facilities.
The Red Cross reported receiving over 100 patients within 24 hours at one of its hospitals, with injuries ranging from head wounds to chest trauma caused by mortars and shrapnel. Patrick Youssef, regional director for Africa at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), described the desperate scene: “Patients are waiting in corridors due to a lack of beds, while the hospital’s car park has been converted into a triage center. Disturbingly, we’ve seen a rise in severely injured children.”
Reports of rapes by fighters and other atrocities have added to the horror unfolding in Goma. The M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwanda, marched into the city on Monday but continue to face resistance from Congo’s army and allied forces.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, aid agencies are calling for immediate international intervention to protect civilians and ensure access to medical care for the injured. The conflict has displaced thousands, with residents describing scenes of chaos and desperation as they seek safety.
The situation in Goma underscores the urgent need for a long-term resolution to the conflict, which has plagued eastern Congo for decades, leaving countless civilians caught in the crossfire.