UN says more than 700 killed in just five days of fighting in DR Congo

Over 700 people have been killed and 2,800 injured in just five days of escalating fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between January 26 and 30, according to UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, who briefed reporters on Friday.

“The WHO (World Health Organization) and its partners, in collaboration with the government, conducted an assessment between January 26 and yesterday, reporting that 700 people have been killed and 2,800 injured,” Dujarric stated, adding that these numbers are expected to rise.

He also noted that humanitarian organizations in Goma are continuing to assess the crisis's impact, including the widespread looting of warehouses and aid organization offices.

Goma, the largest city in eastern DR Congo's North Kivu province, fell under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel coalition on Monday, according to the rebels, as reported by CNN. This marks the latest in a series of territorial gains by the group in recent weeks. While the Congolese government, which accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, has not confirmed the rebels' takeover of Goma, it has acknowledged that the city is under siege.

On Wednesday, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi pledged "a vigorous and coordinated response" against the rebel alliance that has laid siege to large parts of the nation's mineral-rich east, forcing hundreds of local troops to surrender.

On Friday, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix informed reporters that the situation in Goma remains tense, with "occasional shooting," but "overall, calm is gradually being restored."

He also cautioned that the rebel groups are approximately 60 kilometers north of another major city, Bukavu, and "appear to be advancing rapidly."

Experts have consistently warned that the ongoing conflict could lead to severe shortages of basic necessities for civilians in Goma and increase the risk of disease outbreaks.

On Friday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that access to safe drinking water in Goma has been severed, “forcing people to rely on untreated water from Lake Kivu, exposing them to all the associated risks,” Dujarric said.

He added, “Without urgent action OCHA cautions the risk of water born disease outbreaks will just continue to increase.”