Crisis in Goma: How you can Help
As of this morning, November 20th, the rebel group M23 has taken control of the city. There are 41 new wounded now at the HEAL Africa hospital in Goma, including 19 children and 3 pregnant women. Outlying neighborhoods are placing calls to HEAL Africa ambulance services to pick up the wounded, and all other hospitals in the city are referring patients to HEAL Africa. Additionally, HEAL Africa will deploy emergency medical teams to help treat survivors at the emerging Internally Displaced Persons camps. HEAL Africa received permission yesterday to assess the camps in Mugunga regarding their needs for medical treatment, shelter, food and water. Gunfire is still being heard in this area. The need for medical services is great.
A few days ago, the camp of Kanyaruchinya to the north of Goma evacuated 60,000 people within a few hours, fleeing into Goma. OCHA (UN agency in Goma) reported that an additional 20,000 internally displaced persons have fled as well, adding to the chaos. Since then, all have been sent in the direction of Mugunga, and a corridor for the FARDC and the many internally displaced persons have gone in that direction.
Those arriving at the hospital are arriving alone, without family members to bring them food or help care for them. The hospital has been running on a generator since Monday, November 19th. Emergency medical supplies, food and fuel are desperately needed to continue treating patients and helping the wounded outside the hospital.
The people of Eastern Congo need your help today. The staff at HEAL Africa are working around the clock in the middle of a crisis in and around Goma to bring medical support and healing to victims of the violence. Please consider giving a donation today. All donations will be sent directly to purchase supplies to be delivered across the border into Goma. That's the benefit of partnering with a Congolese organization working directly on the ground.
HEAL Africa Congo urgently needs your supplemental financial support for shelter, food, water, support for those who have been wounded, raped or are sick as a result of the war. Whether it's $5, $50 or $500, everybit makes a difference in emergency situations like this one. Click here to give. Donated to the General Fund and include "emergency fund" in the memo line.
Visit our website at www.healafrica.org, follow us on twitter @HealAfrica and visit us on Facebook at HEAL Africa to receive updates directly from Goma.
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