By Bunmi Yekini
In the wake of intensified fighting and forced evacuations by the Mouvement du 23 Mars/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC), hundreds of thousands of displaced people have left the makeshift camps around Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. In response, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has deployed mobile medical teams to support those forced to move yet again.
The humanitarian crisis deepened after new authorities ordered displaced people to return to their places of origin. While some stayed near Goma, most embarked on uncertain journeys north and west, carrying whatever they could.
“Given these massive movements, we deployed teams along the return routes to assess the health facilities that would be overwhelmed by this sudden influx of patients,” said Anthony Kergosien, head of MSF’s mobile activities around Goma.
Read Also: MSF Staff Critically Injured as Gunfire Hits Medical Base in DRC
Read Also: MSF Suspends Medical Aid in Zamzam Camp Amid Escalating Violence in Darfur
However, assessments revealed a grim reality: most health facilities in these areas were either abandoned, destroyed, or looted. With the risk of cholera, mpox, and measles spreading, MSF teams quickly stepped in to provide medical aid, equipment, and personnel.
Sake: A Critical Lifeline
One of the key locations in MSF’s emergency response is the Sake referral health centre, situated 25 kilometres west of Goma. The town serves as a crucial transit point for those returning to Masisi territory and South Kivu.
“Residents are coming back, and Sake is the only junction point for those traveling further,” said Kergosien. “That’s why we carried out emergency repairs on the health centre, which was severely damaged during recent fighting. We also rebuilt the cholera treatment unit, now treating around 20 patients daily.”
Read Also: MSF Mourns Death of Jerry Muhindo Kavali Amid Rising Violence in DRC
Read Also: Sudan Cholera Crisis: Over 800 Patients Admitted, Dozens Dead in White Nile State
Currently, the health centre handles nearly 200 consultations per day, with cases ranging from respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases to sexual violence survivors seeking care.
A Dire Need for Humanitarian Support
For many returnees, hunger and disease are immediate threats.
“I’ve been back in Kabati for a week now. It’s peaceful, but hunger is a real problem,” said Bigirimana, a former resident of the Bulengo camp. “We need medicine. Most of us are ill—there’s a lot of diarrhoea, especially among the children.”
Kergosien echoed these concerns: “The risks linked to food insecurity are serious. That’s why we’ve re-established several therapeutic nutrition units. But we also face the threat of epidemics that were concentrated around Goma. There’s an urgent need to improve living conditions and ramp up humanitarian support. Unfortunately, very few organisations are currently operating in these areas.”
As of February 26, MSF teams are actively supporting health facilities in remote areas like Buhumba, Kilolirwe, Sake, Kingi, Luhonga, and Makombo, while also maintaining crucial healthcare services in Goma. But with limited resources and a worsening humanitarian situation, the need for immediate international aid remains critical.