World Vision warns of mounting humanitarian crisis as violence escalates in the DR Congo

Fresh fighting as rebel forces advance from the north towards Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, has prompted 70,000 civilians to move from one camp to another camp located south of Goma. There are now roughly 2.2 million internally displaced people in DRC.

"It's so heart breaking to see innocent women and children face the worst violence of their lives over a conflict that they little understand and cannot control,” said Dominic Keyzer, the advocacy manager for World Vision in DRC, who is currently in Giseyni, about 1.5 kilometres from the border on the Rwanda side.

“We have heard a lot of shelling today across the border in both directions,” added Keyzer.
There have been reports of children finding themselves alone in Goma after becoming separated from their parents as they flee from one camp to another to escape the fighting.

World Vision has begun to prepare for distribution of food, medicine and hygiene kits in Goma and surrounding areas.

For more information and to arrange interviews with Dominic Keyzer, please call Sarah Wilson on +44 7557 567 753.