The death toll from clashes between Democratic Republic of Congo troops and M23 rebels has surged in less than a week.
On Saturday, DRC’s health ministry said there were 773 bodies as of Thursday in hospital morgues in and around Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province.
The death toll had only been at 71 on Monday, the day the rebels claimed control of Goma. The incident was the latest in a string of territorial acquisitions by the group in recent weeks.
Goma is home to large amounts of gold, coltan, and tin mines.
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Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson of the United Nations (UN) secretary-general, said about 2,800 people have been injured in the clashes.
Dujarric said the figures are expected to rise.
“Humanitarian organizations in Goma continue to assess the impact of the crisis including the widespread looting of warehouses and the offices of aid organizations,” he added.
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The M23 rebel group, said to be backed by Rwanda, has accused the Congo government of not honouring past peace agreements.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, under-secretary-general for UN’s Peace Operation, said the rebels are now headed towards South Kivu’s provincial capital of Buakavu and “seem to be moving quite fast.”
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