Western Nations Urge Goma Evacuation

The DR Congo army and M23 fighters clashed outside Goma on Friday as the UK, US and France urged citizens to leave the main city in the country's volatile east, warning the situation could deteriorate rapidly.
Since peace talks failed, the militia group backed by Rwandan troops has gained swathes of territory in mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks, triggering a humanitarian crisis and ringing the provincial capital, which is home to a million people.

The United States, Britain and France called on nationals to leave Goma while airports and borders are still open, in online statements or in messages sent directly by email or SMS.

"The United Nations warned the raging conflict in the North Kivu province had displaced over 400,000 people this year as the heavy bombardments caused families from at least nine displacement sites on the periphery of Goma to flee into the city to seek safety and shelter," he said, adding that many were living rough.
No date has as yet been set for the meeting requested by the DRC.