Mary Ashuza and her children were seen walking on a road west of Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), carrying their last remaining belongings. Ashuza, a farmer and mother of five in her 40s, had fled to North Kivu from her home in neighbouring South Kivu province in mid-January, after violent clashes broke out between the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and the Congolese army. Witnessing the horrors in her village, she decided to leave Goma for good due to a lack of aid and assistance. The recent escalation of fighting has disrupted the work of humanitarian agencies in the region, forcing many displaced people to return to their places of origin.
After M23 rebels took control of Goma, the city became a center of human despair, with power cuts, looting, and a sense of uncertainty prevailing. The residents were divided into different groups – some felt relieved, others accepted the new situation, and some were fearful of further violence. The Congolese government has vowed to retake control of the city, but experts and locals are concerned about the challenges of reclaiming Goma. As the conflict continues, civilians in eastern DRC are still searching for security, with many displaced people finding solace in returning to their villages.