**Humanitarianism in the Face of Violence: A Reflection on the Situation in the DRC**
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is often presented as a country rich in natural resources, but this wealth is overshadowed by decades of armed conflict and humanitarian crises. The recent escalation of hostilities between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the M23 rebel group in North and South Kivu provinces is just another chapter in a tragic and harrowing tale of human lives.
In truth, the scale of the ongoing humanitarian crisis suggests that the horror of the fighting is not limited to the wounded visible in Goma’s overcrowded hospitals; it affects thousands of lives trapped between the front lines. Ndosho Hospital, which is facing this critical situation, is a microcosm of the state of disrepair in which the Congolese health system finds itself. With over 200 patients for a capacity of 147, the facility has become a poignant symbol of the limitations of a system struggling to meet exponential needs.
By comparison, consider the health system of a neighboring country like Rwanda, which despite its tumultuous past, has managed to reform and stabilize its health infrastructure through strategic investments and international partnerships. Where the DRC needs a massive restructuring of its health systems, Rwanda has been able to accelerate the development of its hospitals by relying on the strategic support of NGOs, such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which, instead of being a temporary lifeline in times of crisis, has also helped build sustainable infrastructure.
Yet the current dynamics in the DRC seem frozen in tragedy. Between 3 and 18 January, MSF treated more than 270 wounded people, while the deterioration in security since 19 January has led to staff and service cuts, illustrating the cruel dilemma humanitarian organisations face: maintaining operations in high-risk areas or saving lives elsewhere. This crisis management reveals a constant tension between immediate humanitarian needs and the impact of an unstable environment.
The perspective of internally displaced people also reveals an even darker side of the crisis. An estimated 20,000 to 40,000 people are now concentrated in camps in Bulengo, Mugunga and Nsulo, where inadequate infrastructure is exacerbating an already tragic situation.. Added to this is a crucial question: in a world of limited resources, how can these camps effectively serve a vulnerable population, not to mention the risks of infectious diseases that spread rapidly in such conditions? United Nations statistics indicate that as of September 2022, the country already had more than 5.5 million internally displaced people, a number that is only increasing with ongoing conflicts. The lack of meals, clean water and health care has become a new normal, a reality that requires urgent and coordinated attention from international actors.
To provide sustainable solutions, it is essential that humanitarian actors work with the Congolese government to strengthen medical infrastructure in the long term, while planning for appropriate emergency mechanisms. The key to breaking this spiral of crisis lies in a collective approach that integrates immediate relief efforts with long-term development initiatives that can defuse tensions and ensure equitable resource allocations.
Finally, let us remember that these human stories are not just numbers. Every health unit, every patient treated, or every displaced person who has lost their home is a stark reminder that behind the statistics lie personal stories, dreams shattered, and hopes lost. The conflict in the DRC is not only a public health issue, but also a matter of human dignity, respect for fundamental rights, and an urgent call for collective action. In an interconnected world, we have a responsibility to respond to this crisis with compassion, pragmatism, and determination.