Clashes in Masisi Spark Health Crisis Fears Among Displaced

Thousands of families are displaced following intense fighting between the AFC-M23 and Wazalendo combatants in the Masisi territory of North Kivu. The ongoing violence has forced residents to flee their homes, exacerbating an already precarious humanitarian situation.

Civil society representatives in Katoyi expressed grave concern on Friday about the escalating health risks for these displaced populations. They highlighted that regional health structures are operating with severely limited resources, making it difficult to cope with the influx of people. The situation is particularly worrying given the ongoing Ebola epidemic in eastern and northeastern DRC.

Violent clashes were reported throughout Thursday and into the evening in the Ufamandu 1st grouping, south of Masisi. Local sources indicated that the town of Remeka and several villages were heavily affected, with many residents fleeing towards Ufamandu 2 in the Katoyi sector and Waloa Loanda in the neighboring Walikale territory. The Katoyi civil society group fears that the combination of displaced people and under-resourced health facilities could significantly increase the risk of disease transmission.

Further clashes were also reported in Nkingwe, in the Bashali Mokoto grouping, northwest of Masisi. Local leaders claimed Wazalendo fighters repelled an AFC-M23 attack, though these reports could not be independently verified. The volatile situation across Masisi continues to fuel population displacement and hinder access to essential services, prompting urgent calls for humanitarian aid to bolster healthcare and preventive measures in the affected areas.