• Nearly 3,000 fatalities reported in the escalating violence of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• Hundreds of women were tragically raped and burned during a prison attack amidst M23 militants' advance.
• The UN warns of significant public health concerns due to decomposing bodies scattered across Goma.
• A recently declared ceasefire by the M23 might impact the trajectory of the conflict.

A horrifying escalation of violence in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has led to reports of hundreds of women raped and burned alive following a prison attack amid a massive jailbreak as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels continue their assault on the city. According to the United Nations Peacekeeping Chief, Vivian van de Perre, the inmates in the women’s wing of Munzenze prison were largely victimized during the chaos that ensued on January 27, when the M23 militants overtook Goma.

Van de Perre stated that around 4,000 prisoners managed to escape during the chaos, while the female wing was set ablaze, resulting in the deaths of “a few hundred women.” She condemned the acts as a part of an alarming pattern, with sexual violence increasingly seen as a weapon in the ongoing armed conflict. Reports indicate that the fighting has led to nearly 3,000 casualties across the region, with UN teams recovering approximately 2,000 bodies so far, according to VOA News.

As of now, Goma, a city of over one million, is firmly under the control of the M23, raising considerable alarm among humanitarian organizations, which report a grave humanitarian crisis as thousands have been displaced due to ongoing conflicts. The atmosphere has turned desperate as people crowd into UN peacekeeping bases, struggling with overcrowding and inadequate sanitary conditions. Van de Perre further indicated that access to basic utilities, including water and electricity, had been severely disrupted but is being partially restored.

Despite an unexpected unilateral ceasefire announced by the M23, the situation remains fragile. Fears persist that the militant group, having steadily advanced towards Bukavu, South Kivu province's capital, may reignite hostilities. Van de Perre expressed concerns about reports of M23 harassment of humanitarian efforts and journalists, complicating relief work and investigative efforts across Goma.

As Rwandan support of M23 remains unconfirmed by Kigali, the local Congolese government has firmly criticized Rwanda for its alleged backing of the insurgents, which they deem acts of aggression. The intensifying volatility has further deepened the complex humanitarian crises already affecting the region, noted by analysts pointing to the massive displacement of over six million people within eastern Congo.

For more on this tragic unfolding situation, please refer to sources such as The Independent and The Guardian.