DR Congo: Johanniter evacuates its staff

ReliefWeb: Updates by Country 14.02.2024 21:20 Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe Please refer to the attached file. Berlin, 14.02,2024 Escalating conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo Many displaced people with gunshot wounds in the camps Some Johanniter project activities had to be paused Due to massive fighting between the Congolese army and the rebel group M23, Johanniter has decided to evacuate its international staff from the provincial capital of Goma in North Kivu, eastern DR Congo. They are currently en route via Rwanda to Bukavu at the southern end of Lake Kivu, around eight hours' drive from Goma. "We decided to take this step because experts fear that the town of Sake - 24 kilometres from Goma - will soon be taken. Then there will be no way out of Goma into Congo and to the Johanniter project regions in Masisi and Nyirangongo. It is also unclear how long the border with Rwanda will remain open," explains Susanne Wesemann, Director of Johanniter International Assistance. "It is to be feared that the city of Goma, with its two million inhabitants and another million displaced people, will soon be encircled." "Many injuries in mobile clinics caused by gunfire and bombs" Johanniter has been working in the country for 28 years and is carrying out projects in the province of North Kivu to improve medical care for the population. "In recent months, many project activities have already had to be suspended due to the fighting. Instead, we have increased our support in providing medical care to the displaced people arriving in the camps around Goma," says Florian Meyer, Johanniter programme officer for Congo. Recent reports from people arriving in the Bulengo and Rusayo camps on the outskirts of Goma show just how important this help is. "Our partner reports patients with serious injuries, mainly caused by gunshots and bombs," says Anthonin Ngarukiye, Johanniter country manager in Congo. "Many people who arrive here don't know where their close relatives are, as people are constantly on the move and fleeing the ongoing fighting." Johanniter has four international employees and 59 local employees in Congo. In addition to the two employees who are on their way to Bukavu, another two employees remain in the home office in their home countries. "Whether we can stay in Bukavu or have to go to Kinshasa or outside the country will be decided in the coming days," Ngarukiye continues. "All of our national staff have been ordered back to Goma and are to seek safety here." Great concern for the civilian population "Evacuating the staff was not an easy but necessary step to ensure their safety. But despite everything, we are still trying to support our partners in providing for those arriving," Wesemann continued. Activities are continuing in the camps in Bulengo and Rusayo to give people access to basic medical care and sanitary facilities. "We assume that the need in these areas will continue to increase, as the fighting around the city of Sake in particular will increase and lead to mass displacement. If access to these areas continues to be guaranteed, we will continue to expand our existing programme to work with other actors to provide the best possible care for the affected population."

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