UNICEF official visits Goma after drone attack that killed humanitarian worker
A delegation from UNICEF has visited Goma city in eastern DR Congo following a drone attack that killed three people, including a humanitarian worker with the UN agency.
The delegation led by UNICEF’s West and Central Africa Regional Director, Gilles Fagninou, met with AFC/M23 political coordinator Corneille Nangaa and his deputy Bertrand Bisimwa to assess the security situation in the aftermath of the March 11 attack.
The rebel movement that controls Goma has accused the Congolese government coalition of orchestrating the attack in violation of a ceasefire agreed last year.
The UNICEF regional director arrived Goma from Kinshasa, where he met with senior government officials.
In a statement after the meeting, AFC/M23 said the visit aimed to “assess the humanitarian situation in the areas liberated and administered by AFC/M23.”
The rebel movement added the visit came in a context “marked by tragic events that deeply affected the humanitarian community,” citing the death of Karine Buisset, the French citizen who worked for UNICEF.
It accused the government coalition of mis “massacres of civilians, and indiscriminate bombings in densely populated areas.”
“In response to this reality, AFC/M23 reaffirmed its willingness to cooperate with international partners to ensure an environment conducive to humanitarian action,” the statement said.
The movement added that the UNICEF delegation observed efforts to protect civilians.
“Clear guarantees were given regarding humanitarian access, the safety of humanitarian actors, and the protection of civilian populations, particularly children and women,” it stated.
AFC/M23 reiterated its commitment to support these efforts by fostering a climate of security and cooperation with international partners, describing stabilization as “a process to be reinforced, in a logic of sustainability and shared responsibility.”
