"If fighting intensifies further, there are very few places people can go for safety."
Tariq Riebl
Oxfam's humanitarian coordinator in Goma
Since 1998, an estimated 5.4 million people have lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in the deadliest conflict since the Second World War.
We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact of the recent escalation fighting, the worst it has been in years. People face killings, rape, abductions, torture, and economic exploitation, at the hands of many different armed groups, including their own government and security forces.
Voice of Congo: Testimonies of people who have fled the conflict
What Oxfam is doing
Oxfam is working in eastern DRC, Rwanda and Uganda and aims to reach around 230,000 people affected by this new crisis. As of 20 November, we have reached 123,000 people with clean water, sanitation services and protection support.
Oxfam has been responding to needs near Goma since July in IDP sites providing water and sanitation to people that had fled the fighting, as well as protection and delivering food programs in some camps. The biggest of these camps, Kanyaruchinya, is now deserted; people have been forced to flee again. The other camps are receiving a massive influx of newly displaced people.
In the Mugunga 1 camp, where several thousand people have arrived following an increase in inter-ethnic violence in the southern Masisi area at the start of September, our response focuses on providing clean water and sanitation in the camp, and supporting the most vulnerable residents by providing cash to help them get back on their feet.
More about Oxfam's long-term work in the Democratic Republic of Congo
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The situation
Worsening insecurity and violent conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo are creating a severe humanitarian crisis.
People in the town of Goma and across the provinces of North and South Kivu are afraid for their lives and are fleeing their homes in search of safety, some heading into Rwanda and others moving towards the IDP camps to the west of Goma.
More than 2.5 million people are now displaced in Congo - with more than 760,000 displaced since the beginning of the year in the Kivus.
The civilian population faces killings, forced recruitment of children, extortion, pillaging and sexual violence at the hands of numerous armed groups and even the Congolese security forces.
The current escalation of fighting has forced most aid agencies to halt activities in Goma due to insecurity.
This situation is of great concern as fighting for control continues without any real prospect of a long term solution. M23 and other armed groups have control over a number of areas in Eastern DRC which raises larger concerns of insecurity.
International response
The people of eastern DRC have suffered too much for too long, and their desire for security and the chance to get on with their lives is too often ignored. This new catastrophe must be the final wake up call for the African Union, regional institutions and governments and the international community to move to concerted action.
There must be an immediate halt to the fighting and access for humanitarian agencies to reach the 2.5 million people who need immediate aid.
Ultimately, we need real leadership to ensure there is a long lasting solution between the Government of DRC and M23, brokered by a neutral mediator identified by the African Union, and backed by regional governments and the international community.
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