The rebels supported by Rwanda, which have confiscated a big city in the eastern Congo, have declared a one -sided ceasefire, citing humanitarian reasons.
However, there was no signs that they were in control of Goma in the heart of a region that are trillion dollars of mineral wealth.
“It must be made clear that we do not intend to capture Bukavu or other areas. However, we repeat our commitment to protect and defend the civilian population and our positions,” said M23 rebel spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka in a statement.
The announcement on Monday, after the World Health Organization said, came that at least 900 people had died in the fighting between the M23 rebels and Congolese armed forces after the rebels confiscated the city of Goma. According to the UN Health Authority, around 2,900 people were also wounded in the fights.
Rebels claim to defend ethnic tutsis
According to the UN, the M23 rebels are supported by around 4,000 soldiers from neighboring Rwanda, far more than in 2012 when they conquered Goma for the first time.
They are the strongest of the more than 100 armed groups, which in the Mineral -rich east of Congo compete for the control, which contains enormous insoles for a large part of the global technology.
M23 says that it defends ethnic tutsis in the Congo. Rwanda claimed that the tutsis of Hutus and former militias are pursued, which are responsible for the 1994 genocide of 800,000 Tutsis in this country.
The World Food Program warns of the lack of food, clean water and medical care in Goma in the eastern Congo, where waves of the struggle displaced thousands of people and disrupted the supply chains.
Many Hutus fled to Congo after the genocide and founded the democratic armed forces for the liberation of the Rwanda militia group. Rwanda says the group is “fully integrated” into the Congolese military, which refuses to accuse.
It was reported that the rebels in another provincial capital, Bukavu, progress after five days of the Goma fight last week. But her speaker denied that this was her intention in his statement.
There was no direct comment from the Congo government, although a joint summit of the regional blocks of South and East Africa is planned for later this week. The presidents of Congo and Rwanda will be present, said Kenya President William Ruto on Monday.
Families hurry to identify bodies
In the meantime, families were absolutely identified by Morgues when cores for burials in Goma were invited to trucks.
A crying Chiza Nyenyezi remembered how her son died of a gunshot wound.
“A Muzalendo shot him in the back (and), he went out of his chest,” said Nyenyezi and referred to the milician group of the Congolese army. “His entire chest was open.”
Louise Shalukoma said that her son’s body could not be recovered immediately because a bomb was detonated when people tried to get it.
“My God, my fourth child when I saw that he was dead, I said: ‘Lord, what should I do?’ “She said. “This M23 war came in Goma for me.”
To fight goma hospitals
Goma’s hospitals also fight to keep up with the hundreds of wounded people.
The Bethesda Hospital says that it receives more than 100 new patients every day and survives its capacity of 250 beds. It is one of several hospitals in Goma who visited the Associated Press and that does not have enough staff and care.
Kyeshero is also heavily overcrowded and reaches more than 200 percent of his capacity over a few days, says Joseph Amadomon Sagara, a project coordinator for doctors without limits that leads the hospital.
Medical workers in the hospital say that they treat more and more patients with gunshot wounds.
“We removed 48 balls yesterday,” said Johnny Kasangati, a surgeon, on Friday when he examined a patient under a tent.
In the past, hospitals in Goma were able to transport wounded patients by boat to the capital of Bukavu in South Kivu, 180 kilometers to the south. However, transport over the Kivusee was hung up during the rebellion and the streets were largely cut off.
The battles in and around Goma also disturbed the supply chains, which leads to medical care that groups rely on. Part of it previously entered the city via its international airport, which is now under rebel control.
“Goma was cut off from the world. It was a total power failure,” said Virginie Napolitano, Gomas Notcoordinator for Doctors Without Borders.
When more and more people came to the hospitals with shot or splinter wounds, many beds had to share, while others were lying on the floor and waning in pain than they were waiting for medical help.
“This is the first time that I experience it,” said Patrick Bagamuhunda, who was wounded in the fights. “This war has caused a lot of damage, but at least we still breathe.”
