Red Cross recovers bodies from devastated Congo prison weeks after rebel clashes

Record ID: 1965810

  • Title: Red Cross recovers bodies from devastated Congo prison weeks after rebel clashes
  • Date: 10th February 2025
  • Summary: GOMA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (FEBRUARY 10, 2025) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE OF GOMA PRISON VARIOUS OF RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS REMOVING DECOMPOSING BODIES FROM PRISON VOLUNTEER DISINFECTING BODIES (SOUNDBITE) (French) GOMA RESIDENT LIVING NEAR PRISON, PACIFIQUE MUGHULWA, SAYING: "In fact, what hurts me the most are the people. Regardless of whether they are prisoners, it is truly heartbreaking. They have been there for more than two weeks. The smells are everywhere, everywhere. Truly, it is very heartbreaking" RED CROSS VOLUNTEER SEARCHING FOR BODIES (SOUNDBITE) (French) GOMA RESIDENT LIVING NEAR PRISON, PACIFIQUE MUGHULWA, SAYING: "Because, firstly, we are exposed to diseases. And then, we have children wandering around here and there in these areas. The children are truly at risk of illness" VARIOUS OF ICRC VOLUNTEERS SEARCHING FOR BODIES INSIDE GOMA PRISON VARIOUS OF RUINED BUILDINGS INSIDE GOMA PRISON VARIOUS OF PRISON STAFF VEHICLES DESTROYED IN PRISON YARD
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: IDP africa army bodies conflict congo displaced foreign internal military peace persons policy prison rwanda security soldiers war
  • Location: GOMA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
  • City: GOMA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
  • Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of the
  • Topics: Africa,Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
  • Reuters ID: LVA001022110022025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) volunteers in protective gear were removing decomposing bodies from Muzenze prison in Goma on Monday (February 10), two weeks after clashes between M23 rebels and the Congolese army led to a mass escape.
    The teams disinfected and cleared remains from damaged buildings to prevent health risks, following violence that erupted when M23 forces seized control of the city on January 27.
    United Nations sources say the conflict has claimed at least 2,900 lives in Goma, a city of one million inhabitants, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
    "What pains me most is the suffering of people. Even if they are prisoners, it is heartbreaking," Pacifique Mughulwa, a local resident living near the prison, told Reuters.
    "They have been there for more than two weeks and the smell is everywhere. We are exposed to diseases, and our children, roaming around the area, are especially at risk," he added.
    In South Kivu province, authorities are coordinating with humanitarian organizations to address the growing crisis, working to restore order, contain disease spread, and provide urgent aid to affected communities.
    The conflict has deepened instability in eastern Congo, where dozens of armed groups have been fighting for control of land and resources for decades.
    (Production: Ngouda Dione )
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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