The situation within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has continued to deteriorate, with greater than 2,000 people killed since M23 rebels seized the eastern city of Goma.
The ongoing conflict has seen hundreds of thousands of individuals displaced from their homes and plenty of 1000’s of individuals wounded.
M23 is allegedly backed by the DRC’s eastern neighbour, Rwanda. Rwanda is accused of wanting to annex the DRC’s mineral reach eastern territories. In turn Rwanda has accused the DRC of sponsoring anti-government militias in Rwanda and of harbouring fugitives answerable for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
On the bottom, Catholic missionary Father Marcelo Oliveira has said the situation is increasingly desperate, with hospitals becoming crowded and even refugee camps becoming targets for attack.
Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Catholic charity, Father Marcelo said that distributing emergency aid was becoming increasingly difficult because the Goma airport has been closed, its control tower vandalised and hardware stolen.
The airport can also be believed to have an unknown amount of unexploded ordnances on its grounds, meaning a whole survey will probably be needed before it could reopen and aid can flow more freely.
The missionary also said that over 100 female prisoners in Goma’s central prison were raped after male prisoners escaped throughout the fighting and broke into the ladies’s wing. He added that many ladies and youngsters have been killed within the violence.
Despite the horrors he has witnessed, Father Marcelo said that the Church would remain with the people during their time of suffering.
“The Church continues to be with the people, just like the Good Shepherd who accompanies his flock and doesn’t leave them to the wolves,” he said.
“So, our presence continues, with the people, attempting to be an indication of hope within the midst of the anguish and the pain.”
“We keep our eyes set on Jesus, leading his people.”
