A hospital in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, has treated more than 200 wounded individuals since early January as clashes between the Congolese army and the M23 Movement escalate. The fighting has intensified in the country’s eastern regions, particularly with the M23, a rebel group backed by Rwanda, advancing closer to Goma.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and local sources, the Goma hospital has been inundated with casualties from the ongoing conflict. “Since the start of January, we have witnessed a significant influx of wounded patients,” Myriam Favier, head of the ICRC in North Kivu, said. “In December, we saw 100 patients, and in January, we had 211.”
On Monday, the fighting spread to the hills near Sake, a town located about 20 kilometers west of Goma, with explosions heard in Goma itself. The M23, which has been active in the region since late 2021, controls large parts of the mineral-rich eastern Congo. Earlier this month, the group took control of Masisi, an administrative capital located 80 kilometers from Goma.
