Nearly nine out of ten health facilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have completely run out of medicines as fighting and looting disrupt medical supply chains, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday.
The ICRC’s latest survey — conducted last month across 240 clinics and health centres in North and South Kivu provinces — found that more than 200 facilities had exhausted their medical supplies. It is the largest such assessment since renewed conflict erupted earlier this year following a major offensive by M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwanda, according to the United Nations.
The report revealed that 40% of surveyed facilities faced staff shortages, 13% were entirely nonfunctional, and many had been grappling with shortages since January, when M23 forces captured Goma, the region’s largest city.
Rwanda denies supporting the M23 movement, claiming its actions in the area are defensive. However, a July report by a panel of UN experts concluded that Kigali exercises command and control over the rebel group.
Francois Moreillon, head of the ICRC delegation in the DRC, warned that the healthcare situation has reached “a critical point,” as violence escalates while international humanitarian funding declines. The organization cautioned that millions of residents are “at immediate risk” as malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, and other diseases go untreated.
The human toll is mounting. Amani Habimana, a resident of Ruke in North Kivu’s Masisi territory, was shot in the thigh during clashes between M23 fighters and a local militia. Her family took her to several hospitals, but none had the supplies to treat her fractured femur. She only received care nearly two months later, after reaching the city of Beni.
Samson Muhindo Kalumbi, an ICRC staff member at Beni’s general hospital, said such delays were common. “We are losing many limbs due to the distance and the delay in accessing care,” he said.
The ICRC has urged all armed parties to allow the safe passage of medical staff and humanitarian aid to mitigate the worsening crisis. Neither M23 nor the Congolese government has yet responded to the ICRC’s findings.
Source:Africa Publicity
