Geneva, Switzerland - January 28, 2025 UN officials on Tuesday expressed deep concern about the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where intense fighting continues, warning that the next 24 hours would be critical as people there start running low on supplies. Tensions are running high in the DRC as fighting between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and the DRC army continues in the eastern city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province. UN staff in the conflict zone reported that civilians were targeted by small arms and mortar fire, resulting in numerous casualties. Armed groups have also looted humanitarian supplies, said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at a press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland. According to Laerke, hospitals in Goma are overwhelmed and the city is also facing severe disruptions to electricity, water, and internet service. Shelley Thakral, spokesperson for the World Food Program (WFP) in DRC, warned that families fleeing the violence face life-threatening challenges and highlighted the growing risk of food shortages. The M23 said Monday that it has taken control of Goma. More than 400,000 people have been displaced since the start of 2025 in the eastern DRC, where conflicts between the Congolese army and armed groups have intensified. Shotlist: Geneva, Switzerland - Jan 28, 2025: 1. Exterior of Palais des Nations, flags; 2. Press briefing in progress; 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, spokesman, UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: "Hospitals in Goma are reportedly overwhelmed, struggling to manage the influx of wounded people. Electricity and water supplies are compromised and yesterday, internet services were cut off and Goma is still offline."; 4. Press briefing in progress; 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Shelley Thakral, spokesperson, World Food Programme (WFP) in DRC (partially overlaid with shot 6): "We've seen families fleeing the fighting and they're facing unimaginable challenges. Every step of their journey is fraught with danger. Roads are blocked, ports are closed, and those crossing Lake Kivu risk their lives in makeshift boats. WFP is concerned about food scarcity in Goma and rising food prices as the airport and major access roads within the region have been cut off. So, depending on the duration of violence, the supply of food into the city could be severely hampered. This is a huge test for Congolese trapped by fighting in Goma and surrounding areas."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 6. Attendees; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Kinshasa, DR Congo - 2018 7. National flag of Democratic Republic of Congo; statue; FILE: Goma, DR Congo - Aug 28, 2023 8. Various of camp for displaced people. [Restriction - For news purpose only/No archive/Not for other production use, No access Chinese mainland]