“Fatshimetrie: The Silent Horror of North Kivu Province in the DRC”
The troubled province of North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, continues to be the scene of exacerbated and merciless violence that sweeps away innocent lives in its path and tears apart the fragile social fabric of the region. In the midst of this turmoil, the United Nations is sounding the alarm, expressing growing concern at the rise in violence and the rapid deterioration of security conditions.
Cries of agony echo across the territories, while armed clashes multiply, sowing terror and death among the civilian population. The chilling figures revealed by the UN leave no doubt about the scale of the human tragedy unfolding before our helpless eyes: at least 34 civilians have died prematurely, and hundreds more have been seriously injured since the disaster on 20 October.
Health, the cornerstone of people’s well-being and survival, has also been severely affected by the vicious spiral of violence. In the Pinga health zone, the General Reference Hospital, which is supposed to be the last bastion against the darkness of illness and suffering, is itself facing an alarming shortage of medical supplies, endangering the lives of many patients desperately awaiting urgent care.
The shadows of terror are also falling on the already vulnerable displacement sites, where each passing day brings new atrocities. Attacks are increasing in the areas of Goma, Nyiragongo and Masisi, endangering the lives of thousands of men, women and children forced to flee the brutality of armed conflict. The toll is heavy, with at least 18 displaced people coldly killed in the heart of these places supposed to offer a fragile refuge in a world torn apart by war.
Yet, despite the darkness that looms, glimmers of hope persist. Humanitarian organizations, like lighthouses in the middle of the storm, continue to deploy heroic efforts to provide assistance and relief to populations in distress. The distribution of food, drinking water and essential medical care represents a burst of humanity in the midst of darkness, offering a saving respite to the thousands of displaced people trapped in a nightmarish reality.
Despite the challenges, a glimmer of hope remains. The United Nations strongly calls on the Congolese authorities to strengthen security around displacement sites, protect vulnerable civilians and ensure safe conditions for humanitarian workers working tirelessly to alleviate suffering and rebuild some semblance of normalcy in a world torn apart by violence..
In conclusion, the tragedy unfolding in North Kivu province reflects a brutal and merciless reality that demands an urgent response and unprecedented mobilization of the international community. In the face of the silent horror that consumes lives and ravages entire communities, it is our common duty to act, to reach out to those who suffer and to strongly reaffirm our commitment to peace, solidarity and human dignity. The time has come to break the silence, to make the voices of the forgotten heard, and to work together for a better, more just and more humane future for all.”