When conflict strikes a territory, the consequences are often disastrous for the civilian populations living there. In the Lubero region, the recent advances of the M23 rebels have sowed chaos and fear among the inhabitants, forcing thousands of people to flee their villages and abandon their homes. The once peaceful landscapes are turning into silent witnesses of a mass exodus, leaving behind deserted villages, like vestiges of a once prosperous life.
The strategic capture of Alimbongo by the M23 was the starting point for violent confrontations with the FARDC, forcing the inhabitants to leave their homes in haste. On the national road number 2, localities such as Alimbongo, Kitsombiro, Katondi, Bingi and Lubango find themselves deserted, erasing all traces of human life. The scenes of looting, ransacked houses and stolen goods illustrate the violence and terror that now reign in this once prosperous region.
Faced with this alarming situation, hundreds of displaced families are desperately seeking refuge in neighboring regions, such as Kagheri and Kasugho. However, their living conditions remain precarious, exacerbating an already worrying humanitarian crisis. In Ndoluma, controlled by the FARDC, relative security reigns, despite the palpable tension due to the proximity of the M23 positions in Alimbongo. This chronic instability affecting the Lubero territory has only worsened the situation of already vulnerable populations.
The roads of Lubero-Centre are now invaded by displaced families, wandering without shelter or assistance, silent witnesses to the tragedy that is striking their region. Fear, dismay and precariousness have become the daily lot of these displaced people, faced with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Faced with this emergency situation, it is imperative to provide immediate and effective assistance to these destitute populations, in order to alleviate their suffering and restore a semblance of dignity in their disrupted lives.
In short, the advance of the M23 rebels in the Lubero territory has led to a major humanitarian crisis, leaving entire villages deserted and displaced populations left to fend for themselves. It is urgent for the international community and humanitarian actors to mobilize to provide emergency assistance to these vulnerable populations and put an end to this tragedy that is affecting the Lubero region.