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DR Congo's Displaced Families: Struggle & Uncertainty Post-M23 Takeover

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is grappling with a complex and prolonged crisis, with millions of families including children suffering from the impacts of armed conflict, hunger, and disease outbreaks. The recent escalation of tension between the DRC and Rwanda, due to continuous attacks by the M23 Rebel group fighting against the DRC government, has had devastating effects on the local population, particularly in the eastern region, raising global concerns.

Thousands of people have been forced into extremely precarious situations, seeking refuge in overcrowded camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in and around Goma. Due to insecurity, many displaced families have had to abandon these camps. While some have found refuge in host communities, many still lack a safe place to go. Additionally, they are deprived of basic needs such as healthcare, food, and safe drinking water, as critical infrastructure has been severely damaged or looted.

A recent report by Al Jazeera highlighted the plight of Mary Ashuza and her five children, who walked along a road west of Goma, carrying their last remaining belongings. Ashuza, a farmer and mother in her 40s, fled to North Kivu from her home in neighbouring South Kivu province in mid-January after Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advanced and violent clashes erupted between the armed group and the Congolese army. She recounted witnessing a neighbouring family being slaughtered, prompting her to flee to Goma (Aljazeera 2025). Similarly, Erick Gashongo, a carpenter from Rutshuru territory in North Kivu, shared his experience with OkayAfrica, saying he and his family of seven fled in darkness, leaving everything behind. Their story mirrors the plight of countless families throughout the region, forced into an unrelenting battle for survival (Deolinda 2025).

According to Isenjia (2025) Amid the escalating violence, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has intensified its humanitarian response in Goma. In a report dated January 29, the Catholic Church's aid agency in England and Wales underscored the worsening situation in Goma due to the escalating conflict, emphasizing the urgent need for a heightened humanitarian response. CAFOD's local experts in Goma continue to tirelessly support families affected by the conflict, stepping up their response to meet increasing demands for emergency aid, including food and water. Bernard Balibuno, CAFOD's country representative for DRC, described the situation as "very serious" and stressed the importance of responding to these growing needs with the support of courageous local experts.

The ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo underscores the urgent need for increased humanitarian response and support for displaced families (Isenjia 2025). As violence continues to escalate, organizations like CAFOD are stepping up their efforts to provide critical aid to those affected. The stories of individuals like Mary Ashuza and Erick Gashongo highlight the dire circumstances faced by countless families, emphasizing the need for global attention and intervention to address this complex and prolonged crisis.

Photo by Joshua Hanson on Unsplash

References

Aljazeera. 2025. “Tense calm, fears for the future in DRC's Goma a week after M23 takeover.” Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/2/3/tense-calm-fears-for-the-future-in-drcs-goma-a-week-after-m23-takeover.

Deolinda, RB. 2025. “A Dire Hour for Congo's Youth and Future as the Humanitarian Crisis Deepens.” OkayAfrica. https://www.okayafrica.com/congo-humanitarian-crisis/.

Isenjia, Silas. 2025. “As fighting rages on in Eastern DR Congo, Catholic charity steps up humanitarian response.” Catholic World Report. https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2025/02/02/as-fighting-rages-on-in-eastern-dr-congo-catholic-charity-steps-up-humanitarian-response/.

DR Congo's Displaced Families: Struggle & Uncertainty Post-M23 Takeover

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DR Congo's Displaced Families: Struggle & Uncertainty Post-M23 Takeover

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