( Being functionally illiterate in French I have used Google Translate. I assume that Charley is the " Observer " and the pictures are his. )
AGAIN, GOMA VECTIMES ( Victims ) ACCOUNT OF WAR
The first shell fell around 10 in the district of Kyeshero, located west of downtown Goma, near the FARDC position. It resulted in one death and three injured, according to a preliminary assessment.
At mid-day, other shells hit western town near the school Mikeno Ndosho making new injuries including a 3 year old child seriously affected.
The victims were taken to a hospital CBCA BETHHESDA Ndosho.
The origin of the shelling was not confirmed by independent sources, but the army accuses the M23.
The fighting broke out early in the morning Mutaho, 10 km north of Goma. Firing with heavy weapons were heard, the Congolese army has used attack helicopters. More than 1,000 people have fled the combat zones to seek refuge in IDP camp Mugunga. After a few hours of calm, fighting resumed on Tuesday around Rusayo and Kibati.
Both sides accused each other of responsibility for the attack. The side of the regular army, we are assured that it is the rebels who started the hostilities. The M23, however, says that it is the FARDC that triggered the fighting. According to the governor of North Kivu, interviewed by Radio Okapi, the attack on the M23 would be to call into question the UN, which is deploying a brigade intervention to secure the area.
Should we fear a new invasion of the town by the M23, as was the case last November? For now, the situation remains unclear. If some people we contacted said they did not feel threatened, others say they feel an atmosphere of fear, especially in outlying areas of the west of Goma.
From Charly Kasereka Facebook page
The clashes between Monday, May 20 from the regular army to rebel M23 had hitherto spared Goma.
But on Wednesday morning, the capital of North Kivu, in eastern DRC, has been hit by several shelling.
The first shell fell around 10 in the district of Kyeshero, located west of downtown Goma, near the FARDC position. It resulted in one death and three injured, according to a preliminary assessment.
At mid-day, other shells hit west of the city, making new injuries. The victims were taken to the hôpitalBETHESDA in the same quaartier.
The origin of the shelling was not confirmed by independent sources, but the army accuses the M23. These events came as Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, was heard in Goma.
Report signed Ferdinand Mugisho Mutaani FM
Insecurity is still talked about in North Kivu.
The first quarter of this year 2013 has been caratérise by insecurity in the city of Goma in particular and the entire province of North Kivu in general.
More than two dozen deaths and hundreds of cases of kidnapping were reported in the area of Goma, Beni, and butembo Rutsuru a zoned occupied by the rebel M23 since last year 2012.
At the National Assembly members elected national North Kivu have heckled the interior minister last week to explain to the Assembly on this issue.
It should be remembered this is occurring with a back drop of the visit to Goma of UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon and World Bank head Jim Yong Kim.
The BBC reports.
M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have declared a ceasefire for UN chief Ban Ki-moon's visit to the conflict-hit area, a spokesman for the group says.
Mr Ban has arrived in the regional capital Goma, where one person was killed in a rocket attack on Wednesday.
He said he was deeply concerned by the renewed fighting there.
On Wednesday, the World Bank unveiled a $1bn (£660m) aid package to help DR Congo and its neighbours.
World Bank head Jim Yong Kim, who is also visiting DR Congo, said the money would be used for health, education, cross-border trade and hydroelectricity projects.
At least 20 people have been killed since Monday in heavy fighting between government and M23 forces.
UN peacekeeping officer Col Premanku Ghosh said two rockets had exploded in Goma's Ndosho neighbourhood on Wednesday and that civilians were among the casualties.
These have been the first clashes between the two sides since the rebels pulled out of Goma last year, after seizing the city in November.
I am however compelled to draw attention to a comment on Facebook by Rosebell Kagumire that hardly inspires confidence in Moon.
Today Ban ki Moon calls Congolese Congolians, seriously!! how is anyone to take his visit any serious??? and last year he addressed Kagame ( President of Rwanda ) as the President of Republic of Congo! May be next he can call Obama president of Afghanistan!! This is a person visiting the great lakes region to help find peace in a place he can't learn basics!
Rosebell is of course correct. The UN have been failing to do their job in the DR Congo for years and that Moon as head of the organisation can't be fucked getting properly briefed says it all. We all pay for the UN. Its total lack of effectiveness and accountability is payed for by the people of the Eastern DR Congo with their lives, a far more valuable commodity than money.
Since 1999, about US$ 8.73 billion have been spent to fund the UN peacekeeping effort in DRC. As of June 2010, the total strength of UN peacekeeping troops in DRC exceed 20,000. More than thirty nations have contributed military and police personnel for peacekeeping effort.
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