Residents of displacement sites in Goma, the largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo said they are living in constant fear after deadly artillery strikes hit their homes last month, and because of sexual violence and robberies occurring in the camps, reports Fidèle Kitsa for The New Humanitarian.
At least 35 civilians were killed on May 3 when shelling hit two camps sheltering people displaced by the two-year conflict between the M23 rebel group, which neighbouring Rwanda supports, and DRC’s army, which is backed by local militias, Burundian soldiers, and southern African troops.
M23 and the Rwandan army were blamed for the strike. However, residents said that the Congolese military was also responsible because it was operating heavy weapons from positions around the camps, many of which are on the outskirts of town and are close to M23 positions in the surrounding hills.
