Deadly fire in a displaced persons camp in Goma: a new tragedy highlights the difficulties of displaced people
On the evening of Monday, September 11, a devastating fire broke out at the Janga IDP camp, located near Kanyaruchinya, north of the city of Goma, in the Nyiragongo territory. Unfortunately, this event resulted in the tragic loss of two children and the destruction of five huts.
According to testimonies collected, the fire was caused by a motorcycle which was parked in one of the huts and which accidentally caught fire. The flames quickly spread to the surrounding huts, leading to the death of the two children aged 6 and 8 years old.
Faced with this tragedy, those in charge of the Kanyaruchinya displaced persons camp expressed their distress and their call for help. They highlight the lack of fire-fighting equipment in the camp, thus endangering the lives of people already affected by the war and forced to live in precarious conditions.
Civil society in Nyiragongo is also concerned about the difficulties faced by displaced people living in the different sites. Although some humanitarian organizations provide assistance, it is often insufficient. The makeshift shelters in which these families live are deteriorating, exposing them to bad weather.
This tragedy once again raises the need for immediate action to help displaced people. There is an urgent need for authorities to send relief supplies and fire-fighting equipment to the camps to protect the lives and safety of these vulnerable people.
However, it is important to note that the ultimate solution lies in resolving the conflict that is pushing these people to flee their respective villages. It is essential that the government ends the war and creates conditions conducive to the return of the displaced to their communities of origin.
In conclusion, this tragic fire in a displaced persons camp in Goma once again highlights the many difficulties faced by these people already affected by the war. It is essential that measures are taken to strengthen humanitarian assistance and protect the lives and dignity of the displaced. Resolution of the conflict also remains essential to enable the return of displaced people to their communities of origin.