UN / DRC UPDATE

“Continued clashes have been reported in surrounding areas, including in Sake, northwest of Goma,” said a UN spokesperson providing an update on the crisis in DRC. While the security situation in Goma has shown some signs of calming, sporadic shooting continues, and the overall humanitarian crisis remains dire. UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:02:56
• Production Date: 29 January 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: STEPHANE DUJARRIC
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION STABILIZATION MISSION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO - MONUSCO
• Subject Topical: HOSTILITY
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: 3333881
• Parent Id: 3333881
• Alternate Title: unifeed250129d

Description

STORY: UN / DRC UPDATE
TRT: 02:56
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 29 JANUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, United Nations headquarters

29 JANUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Continued clashes have been reported in surrounding areas, including in Sake, Northwest of Goma. The Mission’s priority right now remains the protection of its personnel, its assets and the many civilians sheltering within UN premises. Our peacekeepers are planning on sending patrols today in Goma to assess the situation, to conduct resupplies and assess routes. In the capital, Kinshasa, the situation is also calm today despite calls for protests that we have seen. The main roads are reported to be empty, and supermarkets are closed due to high risk of looting. That is what our colleagues in the peacekeeping mission are reporting. You will also remember that a few days ago, we paid tribute to three UN peacekeepers who were killed in the last few days. We are now able to share their names with you: They were Private Rodolpho Cipriano Alverez Suarez from Uruguay, who was 39; Private Mokote Joseph Mobe, aged 33, and Private Andries Tshidiso Mabele, aged 30. The latter two were from South Africa. We send our deepest condolences to their families, their friends, governments and to all members of the peacekeeping mission. The total number of UN peacekeepers injured since the most recent assault by the M23 now stands at 22 and I take the opportunity to reiterate that attacks against UN peacekeepers are not only unacceptable but may also constitute a war crime.”
4. Wide shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Violence and looting of humanitarian warehouses has continued today in Goma, impacting both the ability of aid workers to respond, as well as obviously putting them at risk. Since the escalation of fighting, our humanitarian partners have recorded more than 2,000 injuries caused by weapons and explosive shrapnel. Humanitarian workers are treating injuries where possible. Several bodies of people killed remain in the streets, while water and electricity supplies remain cut off since January 26th. We call for the swift resumption of these services, as well as for the protection of humanitarian warehouses and the facilitation of medical evacuations for people who have been injured. The airport in Goma unfortunately remains closed, which means that flows of humanitarian cargo and rotations of humanitarian personnel have been suspended. Most of the roads that connect Goma to the rest of the country are also closed. However, the border with Rwanda is open and additional humanitarian teams were able to enter today. We once again call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to end the violence targeting civilians that we have seen.”
6. Wide shot, end of press briefing

Storyline

“Continued clashes have been reported in surrounding areas, including in Sake, northwest of Goma,” said a UN spokesperson providing an update on the crisis in DRC. While the security situation in Goma has shown some signs of calming, sporadic shooting continues, and the overall humanitarian crisis remains dire.

“The Mission’s priority right now remains the protection of its personnel, its assets, and the many civilians sheltering within UN premises,” said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General today (29 Jan). He noted that UN peacekeepers are planning patrols in Goma to assess the security situation, conduct resupply operations, and evaluate routes.

In Kinshasa, the capital, the situation is relatively calm despite earlier calls for protests. “The main roads are reported to be empty, and supermarkets are closed due to high risk of looting. That is what our colleagues in the peacekeeping mission are reporting,” Dujarric added.

The UN also paid tribute to three peacekeepers killed in recent clashes. “We are now able to share their names with you. They were Private Rodolpho Cipriano Alverez Suarez from Uruguay, who was 39; Private Mokote Joseph Mobe, aged 33, and Private Andries Tshidiso Mabele, aged 30. The latter two were from South Africa,” Dujarric announced, extending condolences to their families, friends, and governments. The number of peacekeepers injured since the latest assault by the M23 rebel group now stands at 22. “I take the opportunity to reiterate that attacks against UN peacekeepers are not only unacceptable but may also constitute a war crime,” he emphasized.

The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with widespread looting and violence affecting aid operations. “Violence and looting of humanitarian warehouses has continued today in Goma, impacting both the ability of aid workers to respond, as well as obviously putting them at risk,” Dujarric warned.

Since the recent escalation of fighting, humanitarian organizations have recorded over 2,000 injuries caused by weapons and explosive shrapnel. “Humanitarian workers are treating injuries where possible. Several bodies of people killed remain in the streets, while water and electricity supplies remain cut off since January 26th,” he said, calling for the immediate restoration of essential services.

Dujarric also raised concerns about access restrictions that are hindering relief efforts. “The airport in Goma unfortunately remains closed, which means that flows of humanitarian cargo and rotations of humanitarian personnel have been suspended. Most of the roads that connect Goma to the rest of the country are also closed. However, the border with Rwanda is open, and additional humanitarian teams were able to enter today,” he noted.

The UN once again urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to halt attacks on civilians. The water and electricity supplies remain cut off in Goma since January 26th and the UN calls “for the swift resumption of these services, as well as for the protection of humanitarian warehouses and the facilitation of medical evacuations for people who have been injured,” Dujarric said.