As fighting rages on in Eastern DR Congo, Catholic charity steps up humanitarian response

ACI Africa, Feb 2, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Amid the escalation of violence, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has scaled up humanitarian response in Goma, a city in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where violence has resulted in a humanitarian crisis.

In a Jan. 29 report, the leadership of the aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales said the situation in Goma has worsened due to escalating conflict, underscoring the need for a heightened humanitarian response.

“Our local experts remain in Goma, working tirelessly to support families affected by the conflict. We continue to help those devastated and displaced by the fighting,” CAFOD said in the report.

The U.K. Catholic agency added: “We are stepping up our response to meet the increasing need for humanitarian aid, such as emergency food and water. We work with local experts in Goma and the people they are supporting through the crisis. Thanks to our courageous local experts, we are ready to respond to these growing needs.”

CAFOD’s country representative for DRC, Bernard Balibuno, described the situation in Goma as “very serious.”

“Our staff and partners are responding with what they have, and we will be scaling up our response,” Balibuno said in the report.

He added: “The humanitarian needs in Goma now are vast. The city has been forced into shutdown by the fighting and hundreds of thousands of people are displaced.”

On Jan. 27, the Rwandan-backed March 23 (M23), the rebels wreaking havoc in Goma, announced that its forces had taken over Goma.

With approximately 2 million residents, Goma has been in conflict for more than three decades since the 1994 Rwandan genocide, with numerous armed groups competing with authorities for control of the country.

According to CAFOD, fighting in the DRC has affected millions, displacing families and disrupting essential services. Families seeking safety in the city are now trapped, with limited access to electricity, water, and food.

The fighting has confined families to overcrowded shelters in hospitals, churches, and schools. U.N. aid agencies warn of severe shortages of basic necessities, CAFOD indicated in its report.

The report further indicated that the conflict has severely damaged the infrastructure, disrupting electricity and water supplies. Internet services are inconsistent, making communication difficult.

Children face significant challenges as schools remain closed, disrupting education and forcing many to flee their homes. Health care services are struggling, with urgent shortages of medicine and supplies.

CAFOD also reported that a Catholic maternity hospital sustained damage from bombings, resulting in casualties among children and caregivers.

In the report, CAFOD urged the international community to acknowledge the crisis in DRC.

“We are making sure DRC is not a forgotten crisis, and you can do the same,” CAFOD said, calling on individuals to share information about the conflict and to support affected families through prayer and advocacy.

The charity entity acknowledged the ongoing support from the Catholic community in England and Wales, affirming its commitment to assisting displaced families in Goma.

“Thanks to our brilliant local experts and the support of the Catholic community in England and Wales, we are ready to respond to this growing need as families are displaced once again,” CAFOD said. “Now that the fighting has engulfed Goma, we need to talk about the conflict more than ever.”

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

Source: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/261937/as-fighting-rages-on-in-eastern-dr-congo-catholic-charity-steps-up-humanitarian-response