Rwanda-Backed M23 Rebels Seize Goma, Deepening Congo's Humanitarian Crisis

Overcrowded hospitals and disrupted aid supply chains exacerbate suffering as conflict escalates in eastern Congo.

The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group has captured Goma, a city of 2 million in eastern Congo, with plans to advance toward the capital, Kinshasa, 1,000 miles away.
Hospitals in Goma are overwhelmed, treating thousands of wounded patients daily with dwindling supplies and staff shortages, forcing many to share beds or lie untreated on the floor.
More than 700 people have been killed and nearly 3,000 injured since the offensive began on January 26, with fears of mass graves and disease outbreaks as morgues overflow.
The conflict is rooted in long-standing ethnic tensions, with M23 claiming to defend Congolese Tutsis, while critics accuse Rwanda of exploiting Congo's mineral wealth under the guise of regional security concerns.
Western powers face criticism for inaction, as Rwanda's President Kagame denies supporting M23 despite evidence of troop and weapons backing, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.