Goma camp residents fearful as M23 rebels demand their evacuation

GOMA, DR Congo

The sounds of hammering and the clattering of corrugated metal roofs resonated throughout Goma’s Bulengo camp for internally displaced persons on Tuesday as residents began taking apart the shelters they had occupied for years.

They reported that M23 rebels, allegedly supported by Rwanda, passed through the camp on Saturday and ordered them to leave within three days.

Just weeks prior, M23 had seized control of Goma, a key city in eastern Congo that has long been a haven for those escaping ongoing violence.

Camps in and around Goma housed hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals, many of whom have fled conflict multiple times throughout their lives.

Sibomana Safari, a former resident of the Bulengo camp, walked through the area, burdened by the weight of his belongings on his back.

“I’m not sure how we will survive. I have children, and it’s shocking to be told to leave with nothing to provide for them,” he expressed.

After taking over Goma, M23 leaders announced plans to reopen schools and restore the disrupted water supply.

As bodies from the fighting accumulated in the streets, with Red Cross workers struggling to manage the situation, residents were instructed to resume their normal activities.

However, the future for those already in a vulnerable position remained uncertain.

Prior to the M23 takeover of Goma, the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu already hosted over 4 million displaced individuals.

Vincent Bauma, who lived in Goma’s Lushagala camp, took down his modest shelter with just a hammer on Tuesday morning while other residents watched.

“The authorities have told us to tear down our small homes and return, but we have no idea how we will get back. There is still no peace,” he stated.

Oonagh Curry, an emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Goma, expressed concern over the rapid movement of people leaving the camps and questioned where they would go.

“It is crucial to remember that a sudden population shift can worsen the ongoing humanitarian crisis,” she stated.

Kwimana Sifa appeared worn out as she dismantled her shelter bit by bit.

“Our homes have been obliterated by bombs, and we have no place to turn,” she expressed.

“It’s preferable to leave us here. Even though we lack food, at least we have some shelter,” Sifa continued.