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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 24240, member: 2262"] Death Toll Reaches 700 in Eastern Congo Fighting. Recent assessments by the World Health Organization and United Nations reveal 700 deaths from M23 rebel attacks in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. The casualties occurred during battles between January 26-30, 2025, as rebels clashed with Congolese armed forces and militia groups. The fighting resulted in M23 capturing Goma city. Among the dead were North Kivu's military governor, Major General Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, and 16 South African soldiers. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reported 2,800 injuries alongside the fatalities. These numbers may rise as evaluations continue. Health facilities in Bulangu and Lushagala face severe operational challenges. Local hospitals, backed by Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, and WHO, have treated over 1,000 wounded patients. Many victims suffered injuries from gunfire and artillery explosions, according to UN humanitarian coordinator Bruno Lemarquis. Medical centers lack essential supplies, equipment, and staff. Lemarquis stressed the urgent need to reopen Goma International Airport, which M23 rebels closed. The airport serves as a crucial entry point for humanitarian aid and civilian movement. M23 rebels threatened to advance toward Kinshasa, the capital city. President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi pledged strong military resistance to the insurgents. UN staff members evacuated from Goma through Rwanda and arrived in Uganda via the Katuna border. Kabale district commissioner Godfrey Nyakahuma confirmed their arrival at 10:30 pm. The group continued to Kampala, heading for Entebbe International Airport for flights to Kinshasa. The conflict began in 2022 under rebel leaders Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga. Their forces captured multiple territories in North and South Kivu provinces. In August 2024, they allied with former electoral commissioner Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo's Alliance Fleuve Congo. The DRC government accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, but both Rwanda and the rebels deny these claims. M23 states their mission targets corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination in Congo's leadership. [/QUOTE]

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