** Goma: a humanity between two lights **
On February 7, in Geneva, the echo of the sufferings of Goma resonated within the walls of the UN Human Rights Council. The voice of Bintou Keita, special representative of the secretary general in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), drew up an alarming table in the eastern country, following the occupation of Goma by the rebel movement M23/ AFC, supported by Rwanda. While these tragic events continue to upset the lives of millions of Congolese, it is imperative to analyze not only the current situation in terms of humanitarian aid, but also to understand the roots of this conflict that has been persistent for decades.
### Contested humanity
Bintou Keita described a nightmare situation where decomposition bodies litter the streets of Goma, encouraging the World Health Organization (WHO) to sound the alarm on potential epidemics. In this city, emblematic of Congolese despair, the medical staff struggles with power cuts and a crucial lack of fuel, turning in an infernal cycle where working conditions are so disastrous that they jeopardize the very life of those who try to save other lives. This revolting table highlights the vulnerability of humanitarian infrastructure in a region already devastated by years of armed conflict.
### an unknown historical context
To better understand the severity of the current situation, it is essential to explore the history of tensions in this region. The conflict in the DRC is rooted in multidimensional complex issues, mixing ethnography, exploitation of natural resources and international interference. The M23, born in 2012 after a tumultuous period marked by wars and revolts, finds its origins in ethnic tensions and the challenges of political legitimacy. In parallel, the role of Rwanda, often described as discreet but decisive support, raises questions about interstate relations in the region of the Great Lakes.
### Set of siege and thermal reprairations
The month of January 2023 marked the DRC by the imposition of a state of siege in Goma and its surroundings, a security response to the rise of armed threats. However, this measure has aroused controversies. A recent study by the Conflict Observatory in Africa has revealed that such a legal framework has not always resulted in tangible improvements in civilians. On the contrary, it has often been synonymous with increased militarization of responses to humanitarian crises, compromising humanitarian aid efforts.
### The Call for Action of the International Community
Beyond the alarming observation on the ground, the UN representative also called on the international community to redouble their efforts to support the DRC, with the urgency of establishing a sustainable humanitarian corridor. This call goes beyond the simple supply of aid; It sets out the need for coordinated intervention which would take into account local specificities and conflict dynamics.
Innovative humanitarian financing mechanisms, such as prepositioned funds, could make a significant difference. A study carried out by the World Food Program (PAM) in 2022 has shown that rebels are hardly concerned with the fate of civilian. These mechanisms aim to provide resources to humanitarian organizations in the field as soon as tensions emerge.
### Land voices far from Goma
It is essential to also hear voices less often highlighted: those of women and young people who, at the heart of this crisis, are organizing and mobilizing to provide solutions to their community. Local resilience initiatives, such as farmer women’s cooperatives, illustrate growth potentials even in times of crisis. These initiatives reveal an indomitable humanity, a struggle for empowerment within adversity.
### Conclusion: between hope and resignation
While the international community remains attentive to the evolution of the situation in the DRC, it is imperative not to let Goma’s voice get lost in the tumult of geopolitical crises. The figures speak for themselves: more than 26 million people in the DRC need humanitarian aid, including 5.1 million refugees just in the province of North Kivu. Goma, today, is the revealing of an inaction that goes beyond the borders of the DRC, questioning our collective humanity and the role that each of us chooses to play it. The urgency of a coordinated action, respectful of the sovereignty of peoples and their aspirations, has never been so pressing.
At a time when the bodies are collected in the streets and when the cries of hungry children echo, the world must get up for Goma, not only to restore the dignity of its inhabitants, but to redefine our understanding of human solidarity .