Africa health body rings alarm over displacement of people in Congo’s Goma
Africa CDC says health workers ready to offer humanitarian health relief, urges sustained calm
LUSAKA, Zambia
The African health body raised concerns Thursday about the displacement of more than 1 million people in the eastern city of Goma of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“There is an urgent need to address the Goma crisis. The displacement of over one million people in Goma presents a critical challenge to national and regional health security,” Jean Kaseya, the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said at a virtual news conference.
He called for sustaining calm seen in Goma on Thursday to restore the provision of essential health services to the displaced populations, disease surveillance and vaccination of the vulnerable.
He added that 12 suspected Ebola cases were detected in Congo.
Seven suspected patients have died five and the others are being investigated for Ebola, said the official.
Kaseya said 200 Africa CDC staff were on hand to offer relief in Goma and the return of normalcy and the security situation remained key in preventing the outbreak of diseases that could hit other countries in the region.
The M23 rebels launched a major offensive last week in Goma, home to around 3 million people. The Congo, however, accused neighboring Rwanda of sending troops to the city to support the rebels.
While Rwanda has denied backing rebels, regional leaders have demanded an immediate ceasefire as dozens of people have been killed while hundreds injured.
It remains unclear who controls the city and the government institutions in Goma, which borders Rwanda.
Several reports claimed nearly 100 people lost their lives in the last week but Anadolu could not independently confirm the death toll.
Thousands of people have been displaced, many of whom have fled to Rwanda, including the staff of international groups such as the UN and World Bank.
Kigali has said nine of its citizens died in the alleged cross-border fire from Goma. At least 17 peacekeepers have also been killed since last week.
