The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and its partners are working urgently to restore clean water access to 700,000 people daily in Goma, a regional capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The escalating violence has severely disrupted water supplies, sanitation, and power, leaving many residents in a desperate situation.
The recent surge in fighting, particularly at the end of January when M23 rebels backed by Rwanda overran the city, has left much of Goma’s population struggling. With a population of two million, at least one-third of residents have been newly displaced, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
The ongoing conflict between Congolese government forces, M23, and other armed factions has caused instability in the eastern region for decades. UNICEF has identified two pressing concerns — mass displacement and the lack of essential services. Thousands of displaced people are attempting to return to their homes despite the limited availability of water and sanitation facilities.
UNICEF stressed the urgency of clean water access, particularly as outbreaks of cholera and mpox continue to spread in the eastern DRC.
“Clean water is a lifeline. With ongoing cholera and mpox epidemics in eastern DRC, children and families need safe water now more than ever to protect themselves and prevent a deeper health crisis.
“Around the world, children in protracted conflicts are three times more likely to die from water-related diseases than violence. Re-establishing essential services needs to be prioritized, or we risk even more lives.”
Jean Francois Basse, UNICEF’s acting Representative in the DRC
Despite worsening security conditions, UNICEF swiftly responded by trucking water to three key health facilities, including the Virunga General Referral Hospital. The hospital has been overwhelmed, treating nearly 3,000 injured patients from the fighting. Additionally, UNICEF has distributed medical kits capable of treating 50,000 people at overstretched health centers.
Currently, 700,000 people have regained access to clean water thanks to a collaborative effort between UNICEF, the REGIDESO water utility company, and the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO. The provision of 77,000 liters of fuel enabled five major pumping stations to resume operations after they were shut down due to powerline cuts.
UNICEF has also expanded its reach to the eastern part of Goma, where an additional 33,000 people now receive water from a newly constructed UNICEF-funded water network in the Bushara-Kayarutshiyna area.
Cholera Cases on the Rise
However, many residents still depend on untreated water from Lake Kivu, which heightens the risk of disease outbreaks. To combat this, UNICEF and its partners have set up more than 50 chlorine treatment sites along the lakeshore. This initiative now provides treated water to 56,000 people daily in an effort to curb the spread of cholera.
“We are already seeing worrying signs of a rise in cholera cases, closely tied to increased displacement and people relying on unclean water. While gathering data is difficult in these challenging circumstances, with the main rainy season approaching, we’re extremely worried about an explosion in cases.”
Jean Francois Basse, UNICEF’s acting Representative in the DRC
Cholera remains a significant threat in the DRC. Over the past decade, the disease has claimed more than 5,500 lives, a statistic worsened by the fact that only 43 percent of the population has access to basic water services, while just 15 percent has access to proper sanitation.
Even before the recent escalation, many displaced people were living in camps under dire conditions, with dangerously limited access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services. The lack of clean water not only exposes children to disease but also increases the risk of gender-based violence, as women and girls must travel long distances to collect water and firewood.
By the Geneva List of Principles on the Protection of Water Infrastructure, UNICEF has called on all parties involved in the conflict to safeguard water supplies and prioritize the restoration of essential services.
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