Violence Surges Again in Congo: UN Warns of a Growing Humanitarian Crisis

The situation in eastern Congo has turned extremely worrying again, with the UN confirming a sharp rise in killings, destroyed medical centres, and families running for safety in huge numbers. More than 45 people have been killed, thousands pushed out of their villages, and even hospitals attacked as violence spreads across North Kivu and Ituri. The UN says humanitarian teams are struggling to reach people because the insecurity is getting worse every day.

UN Raises Alarm as Killings Rise in North Kivu

I read through the updates and honestly it’s chilling how fast things changed in just a few days. Local partners told the UN that attacks started hitting multiple villages in Lubero territory, leaving dozens dead. One health centre was hit so brutally that 17 people, including patients, died right inside the clinic. Two health workers were taken away by armed groups, medicines stolen, and the building set on fire. Families who lived there didn’t even wait to collect anything; more than 30,000 people ran out of their homes in under a week because they were sure more attacks would follow.

Humanitarian Access Blocked by Violence and Fear

OCHA teams are trying to move supplies and check what people need most, but movement is getting harder. Every time aid groups plan a route, fresh attacks or threats stop them halfway. Many families are walking long distances without food or basics because roads are unsafe. Even when help manages to reach some pockets, they worry it may not stay open for long.

Attacks Spread to Ituri, Adding More Pressure

The violence didn’t stop in North Kivu. In Ituri province, two armed attempts to hit the Lolwa hospital in Mambasa territory were reportedly stopped just in time. Even then, the scale of damage since January is almost shocking. More than 240 civilians have been killed this year in that province alone, and over 114,500 people forced out of their homes.

When hospitals start getting targeted repeatedly, it usually means the crisis is slipping completely out of control, and that’s exactly what the UN fears here.

UN Condemns Attacks on Civilians and Health Facilities

The UN sounded frustrated and firm in its latest statement. They said attacks on civilians and health workers can never be allowed, and they demanded all groups operating in the area follow humanitarian law. The message was direct: stop hitting hospitals, stop targeting people, and stop burning places where families hide. But the reality on ground is messy because dozens of militia groups operate in the region.

Militias Behind the Violence: A Long, Complicated Conflict

The violence comes from different armed groups that have been operating in eastern Congo for years. Some of the main ones named again include the M23 Movement, the Cooperative for the Development of Congo, and the Allied Democratic Forces. Each of them controls territory, runs separate operations, and creates constant insecurity for ordinary people trapped in the middle.

People living there have been dealing with conflict for so long that any new wave of violence hits even harder. With homes burned, clinics destroyed, and no safe road to run on, families keep moving with no idea where they will sleep the next night.