Following the advance of the M23 rebel group on Goma, over 100,000 displaced Congolese were forced to return home, only to find widespread devastation. Many returned to find destroyed homes and lack of essential services like clean water and electricity. The M23 had issued a 72-hour ultimatum for returns, claiming safety in newly acquired territories. However, returnees such as Furaha Pendano lamented the harsh realities of rebuilding their lives without aid, highlighting a desperate situation in towns like Sake, which are critical for access to larger populations.
"I thought life would be easy when I got back," said 53-year-old Furaha Pendano, who had been living in the Lushagala IDP camp since February 2024.
As M23 entered Goma, a humanitarian hub, more than 100,000 people left camps to return to homes, but faced destruction and lack of resources.
M23 argued that the territory they took over was safe, but returnees found devastated neighborhoods with no access to essential services.
"I had a hard time receiving humanitarian aid in the camps, but there's no promise here now, even though I've already been here for a month and a half."
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