View of the Mugunga camps as some displaced people return home, days after the M23 rebel group seized the town of Goma, near Goma, in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, February 3, 2025. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi
THE humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains tense despite a ceasefire, as aid organisations struggle on the ground with an increasing influx of casualties, compounded by challenges to get supplies into Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu.
Fighting between the Congolese army and the rebel group is now within North Kivu and South Kivu.
“We welcome the ceasefire. We're really happy that there can be some respite for civilians who have been trapped in this conflict which has actually been going on for almost three years now. People are completely and utterly exhausted and traumatised. They've been moving from place to place for a really long time,” said MSF Southern Africa Head of Operational Support Unit, Claire Waterhouse.
She described the humanitarian situation as extremely worrying.
“Right now in terms of our work at MSF it's been extremely difficult to work under these conditions and we still are struggling. We've been receiving a mass influx of casualties and it's very difficult for us to get supplies in at the moment. People are living in really bad conditions, very little shelter, no access to clean water, food and adequate healthcare because many health facilities have simply not been able to continue functioning. MSF is continuing to function but we are struggling to get access to our supplies at the moment,” said Waterhouse.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said the ongoing humanitarian emergency in eastern DRC has deteriorated drastically as of the last week of January.
“Thousands of displaced people sheltering close to Goma have had to flee for safety as heavy bombing and shelling struck close to the camps due to the proximity of military installations to IDP camps. There are thousands of people from displaced camps now mostly residing with host communities while others create new centres in schools and other shelters. It is also expected that host communities in Goma, not just the internally displaced, will also have significant humanitarian needs as they have been equally affected. The crossfire also damaged several infrastructures in the process.”
The conflict between DRC military and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels has led to the killing of 14 South African soldiers, prompting calls for the South African Defence Force (SANDF) members deployed to DRC on a peacekeeping mission to be withdrawn.
Opposition parties again piled pressure on Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga for the country to withdraw troops from the area.
“People are dying. Families are sitting without breadwinners. Why (are) those soldiers not yet back in the country if they are so much injured? Why do they need them there? We want a time…when are they landing here with those bodies? We want to give our brothers and sisters that have died a dignified send-off,” said EFF MP Natasha Ntlangwini.
UDM MP, Christobel Thandiwe Nontenja asked: “Why are we hearing three countries in DRC at the moment if SADC is made of 15 countries. We rely on the 15 countries, so if they are missing in action, where does that put our own forces?”
Defence and Military veterans deputy minister General Bantu Holomisa said it would not be the department making the decision to end the mission, but the committee.
“How are we going to deal with the clarion call which says bring back the troops. It is not the department of defence which will take that decision, it is yourself because you approved the deployment of troops. So we might have to say let’s call the international relations (department), the presidency, to form a committee to evaluate the whole (situation). At the present moment, the operation in the DRC is at a need to know level,” Holomisa said.
International Relations expert, director of Surgetower Associates management consultancy, Siseko Maposa said withdrawing from peacekeeping efforts now would undermine South Africa's commitment to peace on the continent.
“The ceasefire in the ongoing conflict may offer temporary relief, but its sustainability is doubtful due to the deep-seated political, economic, and ethnic drivers of the conflict. For a ceasefire to be effective, both parties must recognise the shared suboptimal outcomes of the ongoing conflict and be willing to engage in genuine peace talks, which is currently lacking in this case,” Maposa said.
Cape Times