Goma holds mass burial as morgues overflow

A mass burial of 120 decomposing bodies took place in Goma as the city grapples with overcrowded morgues following its capture by M23 rebels. The Congolese health ministry reported 773 deaths and 2,800 wounded in and around the city, with medical facilities struggling to cope with the influx of casualties.
Hospitals in Goma, including Bethesda and Kyeshero, are operating far beyond capacity, with some receiving over 100 new patients daily. Medical supplies are running critically low due to disrupted supply chains and looted aid group stockpiles. The city's international airport, now under rebel control, has cut off a crucial supply route for medical resources.
The M23 rebels, allegedly supported by approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops according to UN experts, have declared intentions to advance toward Congo's capital, Kinshasa. The conflict, rooted in decades-old ethnic tensions between Tutsis and Hutus, has displaced around half a million people, contributing to one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
Healthcare workers face multiple challenges, including limited morgue capacity, power outages affecting refrigeration, and scarcity of burial land. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is coordinating emergency response efforts, but resources remain stretched thin. The situation is further complicated by the suspension of boat transport across Lake Kivu to Bukavu city, limiting evacuation options for the wounded.
The UN health body has warned of potential disease outbreaks, including cholera and measles, due to mass displacement and poor sanitary conditions. The region, already battling mpox and chronic child malnutrition, saw over 22,000 cholera infections and nearly 12,000 measles cases last year.
The Congolese government has called for international sanctions against Rwanda for its alleged support of M23, while Rwanda claims it's protecting ethnic Tutsis from persecution by Hutu militias integrated into Congo's military.