Sunday, February 9, 2025

Congo Crisis: Food and Water Shortages Threaten Thousands as Violence Escalates

Thousands of displaced people in eastern Congo are running out of food and water as rebel attacks intensify, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.

The worsening crisis has left many struggling to survive, with aid routes cut off and humanitarian operations crippled.

Goma, a key humanitarian hub supporting more than 6 million displaced people, is now largely paralyzed. Many of the camps on the city’s outskirts—once home to over 300,000 people—have emptied as the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advance.

READ MORE: Nigeria Secures $1.1bn AfDB Loan to Power 5 Million Homes by 2026

Humanitarian groups are struggling to deliver life-saving supplies. WFP warehouses have been looted, further limiting access to food. “People are really running out of food, clean water, and medical supplies, and that’s a big concern,” said WFP spokesperson Shelley Thakral.

“The supply chain has really been strangled at the moment, if you think about land access, air access—everything is closed down,” she added. The priority now, she stressed, is ensuring staff safety before resuming operations “as soon as security allows us to.”

Violence Escalates, Hospitals Overwhelmed

The M23 rebels, backed by an estimated 4,000 Rwandan troops, have intensified their offensive, according to UN experts. This marks a sharp escalation from 2012, when they first seized Goma with a much smaller force.

Civilians are bearing the brunt of the conflict. Hospitals are stretched to their limits, treating hundreds of wounded daily. The ongoing violence has forced hundreds of thousands more to flee, adding to the 1 million already displaced in Goma.

Eastern Congo is home to vast mineral reserves worth an estimated $24 trillion, critical to the global technology industry. More than 100 armed groups are vying for control of the region’s resources, fueling decades of instability.

Hot this week

How Nigeria’s Forex Crisis is Fueling Higher Telecom Tariffs and Straining Consumers

Nigerians are grappling with a 50% hike in telecom...

EU Unveils €100m Space Programme to Support Africa’s Green Transition

Africa is set to benefit from a €100m space...

Nigeria’s FX Reserves Drop by $1.16 Billion in January Amid Increased Dollar Sales to BDCs

Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves fell sharply by $1.16 billion...

How FRSC recovered 73 Stolen Vehicles Across Nigeria in 2024

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) made a breakthrough,...

Energy Independence: How Dangote Group Generates 1,540 MW for Its Operations

The Dangote Group, led by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote,...

Proposed 31 New States Could Add Strain to Nigeria’s Fragile Economy – Mike Ozekhome

The Nigerian House of Representatives' proposal to create 31...

Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s Founding Father, Dies at 95

Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s Founding Father, Dies at 95 Namibia is...

Tinubu’s Authority Challenged as GAC Backs Obasa’s Removal in Lagos

President Bola Tinubu’s long-standing dominance over Lagos politics is...

Trump Freezes Aid to South Africa Over Land Seizure Law

In a dramatic policy shift, President Donald Trump has...

Energy Independence: How Dangote Group Generates 1,540 MW for Its Operations

The Dangote Group, led by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote,...

Aging Infrastructure Drives NPA’s 15% Hike in Port Charges

Nigeria’s maritime industry is set for a shift as...

We Will Not Be Bullied’: Ramaphosa Responds to U.S. Criticism on Land Reform

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that his...

Related Articles

Popular Categories