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On February 9, M23 militants issued a warning to Tumusifu and her six children, along with all the residents of the Bulengo displacement camp, demanding that they vacate the area within 72 hours. This marked yet another forced evacuation in a short span, compelling families to gather their belongings and escape.
Their initial displacement occurred in January when widespread violence led many to flee to safety as Goma fell under M23 control. However, with Bulengo now deemed unsafe, returning to their former homes seems to offer the only recourse, albeit one fraught with peril.
“We are terrified to go back home,” Tumusifu conveyed to UN aid workers. “Fighting continues in our village. We are hungry and lack means to support ourselves. We’re stuck by the roadside, unsure of where to turn next.”
Since that time, the situation has deteriorated further. Following the capture of Goma, M23 fighters have also taken control of Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern DRC, leading to the displacement of thousands more individuals.
The sense of insecurity is palpable even within Goma, with increasing reports of crime, including home invasions and kidnappings. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in DRC, MONUSCO, has characterized the security conditions in areas occupied by the M23 as “unstable and highly unpredictable.”
‘Some children are starving to death’
Despite the inherent dangers, Tumusifu and her children decided to return to their village near Goma, where conditions remain dire. “Food is our primary concern right now,” she stated. “Some children are starving to death. There are no medications available because the clinics have shut down.”
Similarly, Francine, another displaced individual from Bulengo, harbored similar fears regarding her family’s safety.
After separating from her husband during their escape from a camp near Goma, Francine fled with five of their six children while her husband took their youngest child in a different direction. “We haven’t been reunited since,” she reported. “Currently, I’m seeking shelter in a school, and life is even more difficult than it was in the camps. Our biggest challenges are the lack of food and clean water, and we have no access to healthcare.”
The humanitarian crisis worsened after two warehouses belonging to the World Food Programme (WFP) in Goma were looted, resulting in the loss of 70 percent of the food stored there—approximately 9,000 metric tons. This event has significantly hindered WFP’s ability to assist the affected population.
Overall, looting has severely disrupted many humanitarian operations, leaving over 450,000 individuals without adequate food, shelter, or access to water.
“Displaced individuals have seen no assistance for six weeks,” stated Shelley Thakral, a spokesperson for WFP in DRC. “It is essential that we deliver food urgently—people are running out.”
The economic strain is evident, as the markets falter. A recent study by WFP revealed that the price of maize flour, a regional staple, has surged nearly 70 percent, along with significant price increases for salt and cooking oil.
The transport of aid has also been obstructed, as Goma’s airport has been closed for over two weeks, halting a crucial humanitarian supply route. Moreover, the WFP-managed UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) faces a funding crisis that could lead to the suspension of services by the end of March without securing $33.1 million to continue operations.
Women and girls on the frontline
As the crisis deepens, women and girls are increasingly vulnerable to sexual violence and exploitation. Many face assaults while gathering firewood, and some, in desperate situations, resort to exchanging sexual services for basic sustenance for their families. Female-headed households are especially at risk.
WFP persists in its efforts to provide food aid in Goma. “Ensuring women have access to food and sustainable livelihood opportunities is crucial for reducing violence against them,” Ms. Thakral emphasized. WFP aims to distribute 57 metric tons of food to assist 11,000 children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and at risk of severe malnutrition.
In the midst of these challenges, the people maintain a resilient desire to return to their homes. “We refuse to accept a life of displacement over the peace of our homeland,” Tumusifu declared. “Even after losing everything—our farms and livestock—we possess the skills necessary to rebuild.”
Surnames in this story have been omitted for safety reasons.
Source
news.un.org