The Red Cross has raised concerns over the potential spread of dangerous pathogens, including the Ebola virus, as fighting escalates in Goma, a major city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) highlighted the risk to a laboratory operated by the national biomedical research institute, which houses Ebola and other virus samples. Patrick Youssef, the ICRC’s regional director for Africa, warned of “unimaginable consequences” if the samples were compromised due to power cuts or clashes.
The lab, located near the ICRC delegation in Goma, is under threat as fighters from the M23 armed group and Rwandan forces have entered central Goma after weeks of advancing. The city, near the Rwandan border, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict in the mineral-rich region, which has faced instability since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Civilian Crisis Escalates
The conflict has displaced half a million people in 2025 alone, according to the UN refugee agency. Goma, a city of one million, is already home to 700,000 internally displaced people, creating a dire humanitarian situation.
Hospitals are struggling to cope with a surge in casualties. The ICRC reported treating more than 600 wounded people in January, nearly half of them civilians, including women and children.
“Patients are arriving with serious gunshot and shrapnel wounds,” said Myriam Favier, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Goma. She noted that overcrowding has forced some patients to lie on the floor.
Francois Moreillon, head of the ICRC’s DRC delegation, said the organization is receiving numerous calls for help from wounded civilians who are left with no support.
The situation remains critical, with the Red Cross urging urgent measures to safeguard civilians and prevent a potential public health disaster.