M23 rebels have seized control of the airport in Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, intensifying a crisis that has already displaced hundreds of thousands of people. The offensive, the most severe escalation of conflict since 2012, has left dead bodies scattered in the streets and forced U.N. personnel to shelter at their bases.

M23 fighters marched into Goma on Monday, capturing the city in a battle that has heightened fears of further instability. By Tuesday, multiple diplomatic and security sources confirmed that the rebels had taken full control of Goma's airport, cutting off a crucial lifeline for humanitarian aid.
"The airport was the primary route for supplies to reach peacekeepers, humanitarian workers, and even the Congolese army," said Christoph Vogel, a researcher on Congo. With no viable access by road or boat, aid delivery has been severely compromised.

The situation in Goma remains dire, with reports of widespread violence, looting, and human rights violations. Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office (OCHA), reported "many dead bodies in the streets" and confirmed accounts of rapes and looting of hospitals and humanitarian centers.

Hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of wounded. Medical sources reported that at least 760 people have been treated since Sunday, though the true death toll remains uncertain as many casualties are outside medical facilities.

In a concerning development, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) raised alarms over a looted medicine warehouse and a laboratory containing dangerous germs, including Ebola. "Any structural damage could potentially release harmful pathogens," warned ICRC's Francois Moreillon.

The capture of Goma has sparked unrest in Congo's capital, Kinshasa, where protesters attacked the embassies of Rwanda, France, and the United States, accusing them of foreign interference. The Kenyan embassy was looted, and the U.S. State Department has ordered some embassy staff to evacuate

The crisis is also driving a mass exodus from Goma, with thousands fleeing across the border into Rwanda. At a refugee reception center in Gisenyi, Rwanda, families arrived carrying their belongings, seeking safety. Among them were over 100 Congolese soldiers who surrendered, according to Rwandan authorities.

The conflict has deep historical roots, tied to the fallout from the 1994 Rwandan genocide and control over eastern Congo’s vast mineral resources. Congo accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, while Rwanda claims it is defending itself from Congolese militias.

Global powers fear that the escalating violence could trigger a wider regional war, reminiscent of the conflicts from 1996-2003 that resulted in millions of deaths, mostly from starvation and disease.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has urged Rwanda to protect civilians, and the U.N. peacekeeping mission remains on high alert. Meanwhile, South Africa has reported the deaths of 13 of its soldiers in recent days, further highlighting the dangerous conditions in the region.

With no immediate resolution in sight, the humanitarian crisis deepens, leaving thousands trapped in a volatile and uncertain future.