Funerals are held in DR Congo for those killed in bombings in IDP locations

In the eastern region of North Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) organized a funeral service for the victims of recent bombings at a number of internally displaced person (IDP) locations on Wednesday.

At least five rockets detonated on May 3 in and around four IDP camps in the outskirts of North Kivu Province’s capital, Goma.

The province authorities reported that there were now 35 fatalities and 37 injuries.

The DRC government’s commitment and determination to spare no effort to restore peace in the eastern half of the country was repeated by Modeste Mutinga Mutushayi, Minister of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Actions, and National Solidarity.

“May this grief spark a sense of unity among us as a country. “Remember that you are not alone during this challenging, unsettling, and trying experience,” he stated.

The potential of additional shell explosions “cannot be ruled out,” according to a warning issued by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) last Tuesday. This is because there is an increase in hostilities in the areas surrounding IDP camps and one of the fallen shells is still unexploded.

The locations that were attacked last Friday are situated along the axis that connects Goma and Sake, a town that is thought to be the final obstacle to Goma and one of the flashpoints of hostilities between the rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23) and the DRC military.

The UN Ocha stated that ongoing violence has “further restricted” humanitarian access to IDP settlements along the Goma-Sake axis.

The M23 rebels, who have taken over portions of North Kivu Province, are the ones the DRC government has blamed for the attacks.

Monusco, the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has urged all stakeholders to take the necessary steps to lower threats to the safety of civilians and to preserve humanitarian access.