The critical situation at Munzenze Prison in Goma raises major concerns about the lives and health of the more than four thousand prisoners currently incarcerated there. Indeed, for the past four months, the shortage of food and medicine has jeopardized the stability of this prison community, exposing prisoners to significant risks to their health and well-being.
The consequences of this stock shortage are all the more alarming given that the charitable organizations that until now provided food supplies and health care have ended their interventions, leaving Munzenze Prison in a situation of humanitarian distress. The absence of these precious resources highlights the challenges faced by provincial and national authorities in ensuring decent conditions of detention and rehabilitation for prisoners.
The constant increase in the number of prisoners, particularly due to the “Safisha Muji wa Goma” operation, further increases the pressure on the available resources within the prison. This prison overcrowding exacerbated by the lack of food and medicine creates a breeding ground for tensions and conflicts within the prison.
The officials of Munzenze prison, who preferred to remain anonymous, warn of the risk of a rapid deterioration of the situation, both in terms of the physical health and emotional stability of the prisoners. The spread of diseases such as diarrhoea demonstrates the urgency of an immediate humanitarian intervention to prevent a major health crisis within the prison.
Faced with this humanitarian emergency, it is imperative that the competent authorities act without delay to provide adequate assistance to the prisoners of Munzenze prison. Ensuring access to basic health care and sufficient food is a moral and legal imperative, which cannot be neglected in view of the risks incurred by these persons deprived of their liberty.
In conclusion, the precarious situation of Munzenze prison in Goma calls for urgent mobilization of public authorities and humanitarian actors to meet the basic needs of prisoners in terms of medical care and food. The dignity and respect for the fundamental rights of incarcerated individuals must be an absolute priority, even in times of crisis.