The Red Cross warns that ongoing violence in Goma, DRC, poses risks of pathogen escape from laboratories and has led to severe civilian casualties. The ICRC highlights the urgent need for preservation of critical biological samples and has treated over 600 wounded individuals in the region. The organization calls for immediate attention to the escalating humanitarian crisis affecting civilians in Goma.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed serious concern regarding the ongoing violence in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, which may jeopardize the safety of Ebola and other pathogen samples housed in a local laboratory. ICRC Regional Director for Africa, Patrick Youssef, underscored the precarious situation, indicating that potential power outages could impact the preservation of these critical samples, leading to disastrous consequences should they escape.
Goma is currently engulfed in conflict as the Tutsi-led M23 armed group and Rwandan forces have intensified their advances, causing widespread displacement. The situation in the eastern DRC, particularly in Goma—home to approximately one million residents and 700,000 internally displaced individuals—has escalated from an already dire humanitarian scenario into a significant crisis. The UN reports that fighting has displaced over half a million people this year alone.
The Red Cross reported a stark increase in civilian casualties due to the ongoing clashes. Reports from ICRC-supported facilities indicate a significant inflow of individuals wounded by gunfire and explosives. ICRC personnel in Goma have treated over 600 injured individuals this month—nearly half of whom are civilians, including numerous women and children, indicating the horrific impacts of this violence.
Myriam Favier, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Goma, described the dire circumstances faced by the wounded, stating that some patients were found lying on the floor due to overcrowding in medical facilities. Furthermore, Francois Moreillon, head of the ICRC’s DR Congo delegation, noted an increase in distress calls from individuals who were injured and vulnerable, underscoring the urgent need for assistance and medical support in the region.
Fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has persisted since the 1994 Rwandan genocide, leading to chronic instability and humanitarian crises. The city of Goma, close to the Rwandan border, has been a focal point for these conflicts, compounded by the impacts of regional rivalries and the presence of various armed groups. This situation not only endangers civilian lives but also poses risks associated with the potential release of dangerous pathogens like the Ebola virus from local laboratories due to compromised safety measures.
The heightened conflict in Goma has resulted in an alarming humanitarian situation, with the Red Cross drawing attention to the grave risks posed by potential pathogen release and the surge in civilian injuries. Immediate international awareness and action are crucial to prevent both a medical catastrophe and further civilian suffering in the region, as the local communities grapple with increased violence and instability.
Original Source: www.lemonde.fr
