DR Congo: UN call to reopen Goma airport ‘lifeline’, as crisis deepens
2025-02-04 12:00
The United Nations has called for the urgent reopening of Goma airport, after days of fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) forced its closure.
The airport is a vital lifeline for the city of Goma, which has been cut off from the rest of the country by the fighting. The closure is also having a severe impact on humanitarian operations in the region.
“The closure of Goma airport is a major setback for humanitarian operations in eastern DRC,” said Babar Baloch, a spokesman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). “We call on all parties to the conflict to allow the airport to reopen immediately, so that we can continue to provide vital assistance to those in need.”
The fighting in eastern DRC has displaced thousands of people and created a humanitarian crisis. The UN estimates that more than 2 million people are now displaced in the region, and more than 1 million are in urgent need of food aid.
The closure of Goma airport is making it difficult for humanitarian organizations to reach those in need. The UN has been forced to suspend some of its operations in the region, and is now warning that the crisis is likely to worsen if the airport is not reopened soon.
The fighting in eastern DRC is the latest in a long-running conflict in the region. The conflict has been fueled by a number of factors, including ethnic tensions, land disputes, and the exploitation of natural resources.
The UN has been calling for an end to the fighting in eastern DRC for many years. The organization has also urged the international community to take action to address the root causes of the conflict.
The call for the reopening of Goma airport is a sign that the UN is growing increasingly concerned about the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC. The organization is urging all parties to the conflict to work together to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.
DR Congo: UN call to reopen Goma airport ‘lifeline’, as crisis deepens
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