We have been left alone. Humanitarian organisations have evacuated most of their staff from across the province. “We came here to be with these people and now the moment of trial has come. We cannot leave them in such a difficult situation,” says Sr Agnieszka Gugala.

The night and morning in Ntamugenga passed peacefully. The village is still under rebel occupation. The fighting is moving southwards. The only road connecting the mission of the Sisters of the Angels to Goma, the provincial capital, is cut off. The only one by which the civilian population can be evacuated.

People who have been in hiding since Sunday are slowly coming out to assess the losses after the battle that took place in Ntamugenga. We still have the wounded in our care, who should be under the care of doctors as soon as possible. Food supplies are becoming another problem for us. We only have enough for a few days. The situation can be improved by locals who, putting themselves at risk, are slowly returning to their fields. If the crops have not been destroyed or plundered, there is a chance that there will be something to eat for the next few days.

The Good Factory’s urgent fundraiser is underway. We will not leave the people of Ntamugenga. We are not leaving the hospital. As soon as the opportunity arises, we will arrive with humanitarian aid.