Limited access to humanitarian aid in IDP sites in Goma: an alarming situation
The humanitarian situation in the IDP sites around Goma is worrying. Kisigari’s civil society president, Gentil Karabuka, expressed frustration over the limited access to humanitarian aid. In sites such as Bulengo, Lushagala, Kanyaruchinya, Eloime, Munigi and Rusayo, many displaced people are struggling to obtain food and other forms of assistance provided by NGOs.
Karabuka points out that these people have been living in unsustainable conditions for more than two years, suffering from malnutrition and forced to beg to survive. He expresses his disappointment with certain NGOs who consider assistance as a favour, when it is a fundamental right for displaced people in distress.
He calls on the government to bring peace to these areas and allow people to return to their homes. He also underlines the dramatic consequences of the absence of stability on the education of children, with a blank third year looming on the horizon.
Meanwhile, fighting between local militiamen and M23 rebels continues to rage in the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi and Nyiragongo, worsening the already precarious humanitarian situation.
It is crucial that measures are taken to ensure equitable access to humanitarian aid in these areas. Displaced people have the right to receive the assistance they need to rebuild their lives. The international community, NGOs and concerned governments must work together to resolve this humanitarian crisis and promote peace and stability in the region