DR Congo VI
Return to War, November 2012
In November 2012 fighters from the M23 rebel group, backed by the Rwandan government, seized Goma, one of the biggest, cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Riots erupted in several places across the country and thousands of people were forced to leave their homes, as fighting broke out throughout the city. There was little resistance from the Congolese National army, who witnesses say, simply fled. United Nations peacekeepers sat in their armored personnel carriers and watched.
By seven every evening the streets were deserted – lawlessness was rife and people were terrified to leave their homes.
Electricity was cut because the lines coming from Bukavu were attacked. As a result people couldn’t pump fresh water and diseases like cholera started to spread.
Thousands of people were displaced – many have been displaced again and again in previous fighting. They lived in the open air or schools. Some received emergency medical care but all lacked shelter and food.