By Michael Arunga

Tens of thousands of desperate and displaced people are fleeing on foot from intense fighting in the Kibumba region in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (E-DRC).

These internally displaced persons (IDPs)—many children carrying other children, as well as the elderly and the sick—are filing along the road towards the city of Goma. They are a stark symbol of a humanitarian disaster that requires urgent intervention.

This latest round of fighting was sparked when rebel forces captured a major army camp in North Kivu province.

Thousands Seek Safety
World Vision’s Southern Africa Advocacy Team leader Carole Njoke says the international community should intervene immediately and increase the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC.
 
Many of those feeling the violence are saying they are very hungry and do not know where they will go. Most said they had lost all their property, leaving many of their belongings behind, when they were forced to flee the fighting.

Many of the IDPs who are evacuating to Goma, were already living in the Kibumba IDP camp, which is situated on the border between Rwanda and DRC.

“Gunfire could be heard”
A World Vision communications team recently visited the Kibumba region, which is approximately 30 kilometres from Goma, where the World Vision Eastern DRC headquarters are located.

During a visit to the Kibumba camp, sporadic gunfire could be heard very close by. Heavily armed men stood guard along the way. A military vehicle filled to capacity with armed men, sped past toward Goma with a wounded soldier on board.

At Kanyaruchina area, which is approximately 18 kilometres from Kibumba towards Goma, the team met the first group of IDPs, sweating, exhausted and hungry. Despite this, many families said they were happy just to be safe from the violence they had left behind in Kibumba.

The World Vision communications team helped transport an elderly, sick man who was suffering from acute tuberculosis and could not walk the 30 kilometres to Goma.

When driving back to Goma, the World Vision team saw hundreds of heavily armed soldiers in uniform along the road, some limping, others wearing bandages. As the team passed by a military camp, blood drenched soldiers uniforms had been aired out to dry.

Editor’s note: Soon after filing this story, Michael Arunga and the rest of World Vision staff in eastern DRC were evacuated due to a rapidly deteriorating security situation. You can read more about this evacuation .

Donate now to provide relief to families fleeing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.