An uneasy calm has settled over Goma after several days of deadly violence between combatants.

Heavy shelling and intense fighting forced tens of thousands of people many of whom were already displaced due to earlier conflict to flee once again.The intense clashes in Goma and its surrounding areas over the past week have further deepened the already dire humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Maina Kingori, Acting Country Director for CARE DRC, witnessed heart-wrenching scenes of people escaping the fighting.

"I’ve seen large numbers of people lining the sides of the roads carrying their belongings—mattresses, buckets, and household items—on their backs or bicycles, fleeing for their lives. Families are leaving camps, fearing that the bombs will reach them. From one of my colleagues, I heard of two brothers who were severely injured when a bomb exploded near their shelter— both suffering life-threatening injuries, one losing his leg. This conflict is not just displacing people; it’s shattering lives and communities."

Heavy artillery fire in and around Goma has been causing widespread fear and psychological distress.

“The fear, anxiety, and mental anguish are palpable in the region. The constant sound of artillery has been traumatizing,” Kingori shared.

“For children, the fear of bombs falling nearby, and the uncertainty of safety create mental anguish that is difficult to overcome. Women are left carrying the burden of keeping their families safe while enduring the risk and fear of further violence.”

DRC is grappling with a decades-long crisis, leaving communities in a state of perpetual insecurity and vulnerability.

Over 6 million people are displaced, with recent hostilities exacerbating their plight. North Kivu, where Goma is located, hosted over 2.7 million Internally Displaced Persons. Since the beginning of the year, over 400,000 have been displaced due to conflict.

Even before the recent escalation of fighting in Goma, IDP camps were already overcrowded as families fled ongoing violence in surrounding villages Over the past few days, more makeshift shelters on steep hillsides are visible; schools are being used as temporary accommodations for those displaced.

This all underscores the desperate need for stability.  In this environment, women and girls continue to face heightened risks of gender-based violence, including sexual violence by armed combatants. Sexual violence has been a devastating weapon of war that has seen women lose their lives after being assaulted. 

CARE’s programs in the DRC, which focus on economic empowerment, providing essential food, and medical supplies, and supporting the most vulnerable, especially women and girls, have been so heavily affected.

“Even before this escalation, our teams and partners faced significant challenges accessing communities in need due to road blockages and insecurity. However, with the recent intensification of violence, these challenges have greatly increased. In some cases, we are taking routes twice as long, even crossing into Uganda, to deliver supplies to health facilities. The humanitarian need is immense, but so are the barriers to reaching those in need,” said Kingori.

CARE urgently calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians caught up in the fighting, unhindered humanitarian access, and the meaningful inclusion and participation of women and girls and women-led and women’s rights organizations in the humanitarian response.

"We cannot stand by as women and children bear the brunt of this protracted crisis," Kingori added. "Every effort must be made to protect lives, ensure access to humanitarian aid, and uphold human dignity."