Hospitals Overwhelmed in DR Congo, Food Running Out: Goma Faces ‘Devastation’
January 30, 2025
Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo – Hospitals in the eastern Congolese city of Goma are overwhelmed with patients and running out of essential supplies, as the humanitarian crisis triggered by the recent volcanic eruption worsens.
The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo on Saturday, January 29, forced over 450,000 people to flee their homes, many of whom are now living in makeshift camps with limited access to food, water, and sanitation.
Medical facilities in Goma have been struggling to cope with the influx of injured and sick patients. The Goma General Reference Hospital, one of the largest in the city, is operating at close to full capacity, with its wards filled with patients suffering from burns, respiratory problems, and other ailments.
“We are overwhelmed. The hospital is overcrowded, and we are running out of beds, bandages, and other supplies,” said Dr. Jean-Marie Ndombele, medical director of the hospital.
The hospital has also been forced to ration food due to shortages. “We are providing patients with only one meal a day, and even that is not enough,” Dr. Ndombele said.
The food shortage is also affecting the wider population. The International Red Cross has warned that food supplies in Goma are running dangerously low, and that the city could face a “devastating” food crisis if urgent aid does not arrive.
“We are seeing people who are desperate for food. They are foraging in fields and garbage dumps, and some are even resorting to looting,” said Antoine Mwanza, a Red Cross field coordinator.
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has declared a state of emergency in Goma and has appealed for international assistance. The United Nations is coordinating the international response, and several countries have already pledged to provide aid.
However, humanitarian organizations say that the aid is not arriving fast enough. “We need more supplies, more food, more tents, and more medical personnel,” said Mwanza. “The people of Goma are facing a crisis, and we need to act now.”
The volcanic eruption has also caused significant damage to infrastructure in Goma. Several buildings have been destroyed, including the city’s airport. The eruption has also blocked roads, making it difficult for aid to reach the city.
The crisis in Goma is the latest in a series of humanitarian disasters to hit the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country has been plagued by armed conflict, political instability, and poverty for decades. The volcanic eruption has only exacerbated the suffering of the Congolese people.
Hospitals overwhelmed in DR Congo, food running out: Goma faces ‘devastation’
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