At least 2,900 people killed in fighting for Goma town in DR Congo
The number of dead during the attack of rebels from the group M23 ("March 23 Movement") on the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reached more than 2.9 thousand people. The UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) said on February 5.
"Two thousand bodies have been removed from the streets of Goma in recent days and 900 bodies are in the morgue," RIA Novosti quoted deputy head of the mission Vivian van de Peer as saying.
MONUSCO held a press conference via video link from Goma. It is noted that the number of dead may increase.
On January 31 during the briefing the representative of the UN Secretary General Stephane Dujarric reported about the death of at least 700 people in Goma. In addition, as Dujarric emphasized, it is expected that the number of killed and wounded "will increase as more information becomes available."
On January 27, the leader of the March 23 Movement, Cornel Nangaa, claimed to have taken control of the city of Goma. Rebels cut food and essential supplies routes into the city from the south. Reuters reported on January 28 that Congolese rebels from M23 took control of the airport of the city of Goma. It was noted that it was through it that the UN, humanitarian groups and peacekeepers were delivering supplies.
Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya, in turn, emphasized that Russia strongly condemns the actions of the Congolese rebel group M23 in the DRC and calls for a cessation of hostilities.
The aggravation of the situation in DR Congo occurred after the government severed diplomatic relations with Rwanda and accused the country of supporting the rebels, who launched a new offensive on the city of Goma. The DRC Foreign Ministry on January 26 announced the immediate withdrawal of its diplomats in the Rwandan capital of Kigali and ordered the country's embassy in Kinshasa to cease operations within 48 hours.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
