Share

Death toll from strikes on eastern DRC displaced-people camps rises to 18

accreditation
0:00
play article
Subscribers can listen to this article
A shelter that was destroyed in the attack on Friday, 3 May, photographed on 6 May 2024. (Aubin Mukoni / AFP)
A shelter that was destroyed in the attack on Friday, 3 May, photographed on 6 May 2024. (Aubin Mukoni / AFP)
  • The official count of people killed in Friday's attack on a camp for displaced people in the eastern DRC has risen to 18.
  • Another 32 were injured, said a UN agency.
  • The DRC blames Rwanda.


Eighteen people were killed and 32 wounded on Friday when at least five rockets fell on camps sheltering displaced people around the eastern Congolese city of Goma, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said, updating an earlier death toll of 12.

The deaths illustrate the worsening humanitarian fallout from the two-year conflict between Congolese forces and the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23, which has moved closer to Goma in recent months, prompting thousands to seek refuge in the city.

The DRC and the United States have said the attacks were launched from territory held by Rwandan troops and M23.

Rwanda, which denies backing M23, has blamed militias loyal to Congo for the assault.

OCHA said in a statement that most of those killed in the rockets strikes were women and children. One more woman was killed during a protest at one camp after the attacks, it said.

"We are the losers. My sister has left a baby behind," said Nzambonimpa Hitimana, the brother of the woman who died during the demonstration by residents against the growing insecurity.

"Our army is not doing enough to drive out the enemy. The worst thing is that they place their big guns not far from our camps," he told Reuters at one of the camps that was hit.

The situation in Goma has been calm so far this week, but fighting between M23 and the so-called Wazalendo alliance of armed groups loyal to the government continued on Monday in nearby Masisi territory around the town of Bitonga, according to one military source and two local sources.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
President Cyril Ramaphosa will sign the National Health Insurance Bill into law this week.
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
At last. The NHI will improve healthcare for all South Africans.
28% - 4236 votes
Cheap politicking before the election. Challenge the Bill in court.
35% - 5389 votes
I don't have strong feelings about the NHI either way.
37% - 5729 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.33
-0.8%
Rand - Pound
23.26
+0.1%
Rand - Euro
19.97
-0.0%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.29
-0.0%
Rand - Yen
0.12
-0.0%
Platinum
1,094.50
0.0%
Palladium
1,011.50
0.0%
Gold
2,414.25
-0.1%
Silver
31.49
+0.1%
Brent Crude
83.98
+0.9%
Top 40
73,214
0.0%
All Share
79,531
+0.0%
Resource 10
63,559
+2.2%
Industrial 25
110,578
-1.0%
Financial 15
17,183
-0.2%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE