The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday reported that ongoing fighting in and around the city of Goma, in the eastern region of North Kivu, has resulted in at least 45 deaths and over 2,000 injuries.
The U.N. health agency, citing unnamed sources, confirmed that the casualties occurred across three health zones in North Kivu.
According to the WHO statement, 2,029 individuals have been injured and are receiving care at health facilities and other points of medical assistance.
The organization did not specify the parties involved in the violence but emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian support.
In addition to the physical toll of the conflict, the WHO raised alarms about the growing risk of disease outbreaks in the region.
The agency warned that the mass displacement of people due to the ongoing hostilities has heightened the chances of the spread of infectious diseases, including mpox, cholera, and measles.
Health officials are calling for immediate international aid to help curb the potential public health crisis, urging increased resources and access to affected areas to contain disease transmission and provide care to the injured.
The situation in North Kivu remains volatile, with thousands of civilians fleeing their homes in search of safety, further complicating efforts to provide medical and humanitarian assistance.
