The Bishop of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo says he is dismayed at the scale of violence in his diocese as M23 rebels advanced into the town. Source: Crux.
The Rwanda-backed rebel group announced it had captured Goma – the largest town in the east of the DRC.
The government of the DRC described the development as a “declaration of war” by Rwanda.
The United Nations said the capture has caused “mass panic” among Goma’s two million residents, with reports indicating that at least 237,000 people have been displaced in the region since the beginning of January.
In a statement on Monday, Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele spoke about learning that parts of a hospital had been bombed, triggering the deaths of several babies.
“As Bishop of Goma, moved by pastoral solicitude, I follow closely, with dismay, the security situation in the city of Goma,” the bishop said.
“I am disgusted to learn of the bombings, among others of the neonatology department of the General Hospital, causing the death of newborn babies, and the bombing of the of the concession of the diocesan procuracy, destroying the windows of the new, recently inaugurated building.”
“I deplore the looting, by the population and sometimes by the military, of some shops and warehouses. This exacerbates the already deplorable humanitarian situation,” he said.
In a January 25 interview with Vatican Radio, Bishop Ngumbi Ngengele implied the rebels have a clear objective: To suffocate Goma.
He said the encroachment of the rebels has already created “a lot of suffering for the population.”
“There are currently more than two and a half million people displaced by the war around the city of Goma,” the bishop said.
“The displaced are suffering greatly, as they no longer know where to go,” the bishop said.
“This is truly the tragedy that the population is living through,” he added.
FULL STORY
Congolese bishop says he is dismayed as violence grows in Goma (By Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux)
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