A Doctors Without Borders (MSF) member and a child were injured on Thursday when shots were fired at the aid organization’s base in the town of Masisi, in the North Kivu province of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
“We strongly condemn this latest incident of violence, which directly affects a humanitarian facility that needs to be protected from armed attacks,” MSF said in a statement.
According to Stephan Goetghebuer, head of programmes at MSF, the town has been under the control of M23 rebels since January, and has seen intense fighting involving heavy weapons.
Since January 16, two civilians have been killed, two MSF members and a health ministry staff member have been injured, and several incidents have occurred in the vicinity of the MSF base and Masisi hospital.
MSF said that since early January, daily clashes have taken place near Masisi, with civilian casualties at the MSF-supported hospital, and thousands of people taking refuge in the MSF base and the market in front of the hospital.