DR Congo: UN call to reopen Goma airport ‘lifeline’, as crisis deepens

“Goma airport is a lifeline,” said Bruno Lemarquis. “Without it, the evacuation of the seriously injured, the delivery of medical supplies and the reception of humanitarian reinforcements are paralyzed.”

Growing casualties

The M23 armed group, supported by Rwandan troops, seized the airport last week as its fighters swept through Goma – the regional capital of North Kivu. Several hundred people have reportedly been killed in the hostilities, with tens of thousands more forced to flee their homes.

Rebels have seized control of large areas of Goma, setting up checkpoints and severely restricting humanitarian access, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). This has disrupted the delivery of food, water, and medical aid for up to two million people.

Humanitarian workers also face restricted access to displacement camps, limiting the provision of essential services, including emergency obstetric care.

An absolute emergency

Mr. Lemarquis urged all parties to “shoulder their responsibilities” and facilitate the immediate reopening of the airport.

“Every hour lost puts more lives at risk. This is an absolute emergency. All those involved must act without delay to enable humanitarian flights to resume operations and guarantee access to relief supplies,” he stressed.

“The survival of thousands of people depends on it.”

Sexual violence ‘tragically routine’

Meanwhile, UN Women, the Organization’s lead agency for protection of women and girls, warned that reports of sexual violence and exploitation have become “tragically routine.”

“As the clashes unfold in a country that has endured prolonged instability, women and girls are bearing the brunt of both direct and indirect consequences, with their rights, safety, and dignity increasingly under threat,” said the agency’s Sofia Calltorp, Chief of Humanitarian Action, briefing journalists in Geneva.

Local women’s organizations have reported widespread sexual violence, forced displacement, and severe gaps in basic social as well as protection services.

With the situation worsening, UN Women called for immediate action by State and non-state actors in DRC as well as the wider international community to combat sexual and gender-based violence and end impunity for perpetrators.

Aftermath in Goma

In Goma, displacement sites around the city have been abandoned and destroyed, with water, sanitation, and health facilities severely damaged, according to UN aid coordination office, OCHA.

The city has also seen a surge in crime, including vehicle hijackings and looting of humanitarian warehouses belonging to UN agencies and partner organizations.

Although some businesses have resumed operations, schools remain closed, internet services are down, and hospitals are overwhelmed. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) is warning of potential disease outbreaks, including mpox, cholera and measles.

South Kivu

In South Kivu’s Kalehe territory, clashes since 25 January between the Congolese army and M23 rebels have displaced thousands. Some 6,900 people have fled to Bukavu, while others are seeking refuge in host communities.

The situation remains dire, with a worsening cholera outbreak due to disrupted health services.

Adding to the crisis, the 90-day suspension of US humanitarian funding is severely impacting food security, sanitation and relief efforts in both North and South Kivu, humanitarian partners warned.