"We fled in darkness, leaving everything behind," Erick Gashongo, a carpenter from Rutshuru territory in North Kivu, tells OkayAfrica. He and his family of seven escaped with only their lives as Rwandan-backed rebels seized control of North Kivu province and its capital, Goma. Their story mirrors the plight of countless families throughout the region, forced into an unrelenting battle for survival.
As the rebel offensive tore through the province like a relentless storm, makeshift tents offered a fleeting sense of refuge, until they didn't. Since the beginning of 2025, the rebel offensive hasdisplaced over 500,000 Congolese people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).The humanitarian nightmare in the DRC
In the surge, orphaned children navigate trauma while those separated from their families in the chaos desperately search for reunification in the city. Many seek refuge in churches, camps, and hospitals, creating an unprecedented humanitarian emergency.
Aid organizations play a critical role in sustaining the morale of the displaced, yet, as Gashongo explains. "My biggest challenge is the lack of mental health support." His words, a saddening reality that aligns with theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ Jan. 30, 2025 report, "Humanitarian agencies do not have access to displaced populations in and around Goma due to the deteriorating security situation, with no electricity, water, or connectivity."
Even in these trying circumstances, a few key organizations support the displaced. One such organization is Focus Congo, which has served as a fragile sanctuary providing food and shelter. "These camps are at least adapted to a somewhat reassuring life," Gashongo says.
Photo by Isaac Jimmy for Focus Congo.
Placide, a member of Focus Congo prepares food to feed the children of the displaced and their families in Kanyaruchinya.
The organization's founder, Pappy Orion, underscores the conflict's devastating impact on women and children. "What we're witnessing is a humanitarian catastrophe. We're going to have many parentless children roaming around the city," he tells OkayAfrica.
On the global stage, the international community's responseremains muted while Rwanda's PresidentPaul Kagame denies involvement in the DRC's conflict. These denials persistdespite allegations linking Rwandan and Ugandan mercenaries in the M23 rebel group to mineral resource exploitation in Congo by multinational corporations.M23 rebels' precarious truce for displaced people to return home
On Feb. 3, 2025, M23 declared a ceasefire, with Rwanda and the DRC scheduled to meet in Dar es Salaam on February 9. While M23 claims the ceasefire will enable humanitarian aid, their call for displaced people to return home meets resistance, as these areas remain under rebel control and have been reduced to rubble.
Manydisplaced residents fear returning due to armed militia presence. Gashongo, currently in Nyiragongo territory near Goma, takes a pragmatic view: "As vulnerable people, we care less about who governs and more about security and stability. I submit to whoever takes charge as long as they ensure our safety."The glimmer of hope faded for the children of Congo
As bodies blanket the streets and the cost of war wages heavily on the consciousness of the millions displaced, the mental fortitude of the people lies in the balance. For volunteers and activists on the ground offering relief to the victims, the weight of trauma not only lingers in the lives of those they help but also weighs heavily on their hearts as they witness the devastation unfolding around them.
"So many of my team lost everything to bomb attacks. People are traumatized," Orion says. Despite this, the agency's communication coordinator, Issac Jimmy, tells OkayAfrica that their determination to help remains unshaken. "The trauma does not prevent our determination to help people in distress," he says.
Focus Congo's education initiatives to support displaced children have provided hope amid chaos. Their schooling program,launched in September 2024, operated intermittently between bombings. By early 2025, students completed a six-month computer literacy course and received certificates — a significant achievement since the war's 2022 start. "People lived peacefully, with a real sense of community in the camps," Pappy reflects. "They learned valuable skills during these difficult times."
One thing remains: despite the horrors of war, the solidarity among victims fosters a shared sense of humanity and hope. This sentiment is echoed in Erick Gashongo's message to other displaced individuals. "I express my compassion because this situation is not easy to endure; no one would want to live under these conditions." His appeal to the global community is simple, "Continue showing humanity and support in every possible way."
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