Alarming Humanitarian Situation in Kalehe, Civil Society Warns

The humanitarian situation in Kalehe, located in the South Kivu province, has alarmingly deteriorated, according to the New Civil Society of Congo (NSCC) in the territory. This crisis stems from armed confrontations that erupted last weekend in several villages, including Katasomwa, Bishaka, Ziralo, Lumbishi, and Masisi.

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The displaced people of the war are living in very difficult conditions in the villages where they are located.

The clashes involved Wazalendo fighters and the AFC-M23 rebels, creating a dire environment for the local population. Benjamin Mungazi, president of the NSCC/Kalehe, expressed deep concern over the prevailing conditions. He reported that over three thousand households have been newly displaced and identified in areas such as Nyabibwe, Mukwija, and Mweha.

These displaced individuals are enduring severe hardship in the villages where they have sought refuge. Mungazi detailed the numbers: 982 households in Mukwija-Kiniézire, 350 in Ruhunde, 256 in Mweha, 995 in Nyabibwe, and 198 in Bujuki. He appealed to governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as benevolent individuals, to increase their support for these distressed families.

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These households, who have abandoned everything in their villages of origin, need urgent assistance, both in terms of food and non-food items: food, kitchen utensils, tarpaulins, medicines, and financial means to improve their living conditions, especially those of women and children.

Mungazi emphasized the urgent need for assistance, covering both food and non-food items like cooking utensils, tarpaulins, and medicine. Financial aid is also crucial to improve their living conditions, with a special focus on women and children. He stressed that aid distribution must be equitable and based on clear beneficiary identification to prevent discrimination or conflict among host families. The violence in Kalehe is linked to broader conflicts in the Masisi territory of North Kivu, where similar clashes occurred on July 1, 2026, between AFC-M23 rebels and Wazalendo coalitions.

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This aid must be distributed equitably after clear identification of beneficiaries, to avoid any discrimination or conflict during distributions among host families.