Simon O'Connell
Regional Program Director for Africa
Mercy Corps is monitoring humanitarian needs as the situation unfolds in eastern Congo, where rebel forces have taken control of Goma, the capital of Congo's war-torn North Kivu province.
Members of the M23 rebel group took Goma on Tuesday, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee the city and its outskirts.
Mercy Corps has been working from Goma since 2007 to support vulnerable families by promoting sustainable livelihoods, food security, and good governance. We've been working with partners to rehabilitate Goma's municipal water network since 2008, and working throughout the province to provide access to water and sanitation services in displacement camps.
These displaced families — the numbers of which are growing — urgently require a range of basic services, including water and sanitation, food assistance, essential household items and protection measures.
Mercy Corps has prioritized the safety of our staff, and we have evacuated some team members to neighboring Rwanda. We will continue to closely monitor this volatile and fluid situation.