Gunfire echoed through the darkened streets.A 44-year-old Physician from Guinea desperately hoped the city of Goma would endure. but in late January 2025, an urgent evacuation order arrived, forcing him and remaining international personnel to flee.

“We boarded the last available flight,” he stated, recounting the tense departure. Hours later, Goma fell to the M23 rebel group, marking a significant victory for the Tutsi-led faction, backed by neighboring Rwanda.

For many, escape would have signified the end of their involvement. However, as his aircraft ascended, the doctor knew he would return, the timing uncertain.

A Difficult Pause

Back in Dakar, Senegal, where he directs the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency operations for West and Central Africa, Dr. Baldé found himself restless. Disturbing reports of civilian atrocities continued to emerge from North Kivu, each detail weighing heavily on his conscience. The fate of his colleagues haunted him,strengthening his resolve to return to their side.

Just two weeks later, on his 45th birthday, he was assigned to lead the agency’s response in eastern Democratic republic of Congo. He deliberately withheld this data from his parents in Conakry,Guinea,shielding them from worry.

“I only informed them after my arrival,” he confessed with a touch of embarrassment.His wife and children were accustomed to his deployments to the world’s most precarious regions.

Returning to a City in Ruins

Reaching Goma took five days, hampered by a closed airport and roads riddled with checkpoints. The city he found had been devastated. Power lines were down, hospitals overflowed with casualties, and rumors circulated of bodies lying in the streets. Fear permeated every corner, like ash following a fire. “Everything had changed in just fifteen days,” he observed.

His team was depleted. Approximately twenty Congolese staff members, fatigued and worn, had been struggling to maintain the city’s fragile healthcare system. Recognizing their plight, he granted half of them leave to recover, despite the critical need for every available hand.

Surprisingly, the WHO warehouses remained untouched during the widespread looting that plagued other UN agencies. These facilities became vital lifelines, providing fuel for hospitals, surgical supplies for the wounded, and communication devices for coordinating evacuations.

Initial reports estimated up to 3,000 fatalities, necessitating swift and dignified disposal of the bodies to prevent the spread of disease.

“We had to ensure rapid and respectful burials,” he explained, detailing how the WHO funded local gravediggers to manage the grim task.

The Threat of Cholera

Upon his return, a new crisis emerged: a cholera outbreak. The first cases were confirmed in a MONUSCO camp housing hundreds of disarmed Congolese soldiers and their families displaced by the M23 offensive.The UN peacekeeping bases, designed for military personnel, were ill-equipped to accommodate such a large civilian population, leading to dire sanitation conditions and rapid transmission.

that night, sleep eluded Dr. Baldé.

The following morning, he visited the camp, witnessing patients lying on the floor. Approximately 20 to 30 individuals were present, attended by only one doctor, he recalled, with two already deceased.

His team immediately mobilized, providing disinfection supplies, protective gear, makeshift triage services, and training to newly recruited staff. vaccines were urgently dispatched from Kinshasa.

Rumors and Reorientation

However, rumors began to spread throughout the city.

“People claimed cholera was spiraling out of control in Goma and that the WHO was unable to cope,” he said. He, who had come to deliver aid, now faced a full-blown epidemic.

“We were compelled to entirely readjust our strategy,” he explained, recalling the haunting memory of the 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti where the UN was implicated.

Adding to the complexity, cases of Mpox, previously confined to displacement camps outside Goma, began to appear within the city itself. These camps,home to hundreds of thousands uprooted by prior violence,had been emptied following Goma’s capture.

“Patients were now presenting within the community,” he noted.

Negotiating with Those in Power

An unexpected challenge arose with the arrival of armed men at the WHO compound. Their affiliation – M23, independent fighters, or common criminals – remained unclear. The staff de-escalated the situation, persuading them to leave. This incident highlighted the necessity of establishing communication with the de facto authorities to ensure the continuation of aid operations.

Dr. Baldé proactively sought a meeting with the rebel leadership.

“We took the initiative and requested a meeting,” he said. At the North Kivu governor’s office, now occupied by the rebels, he presented his WHO identification.

“I emphasized that Ebola and cholera pose a threat to everyone.Our mission is to contain these diseases.”

A fragile channel of communication was established.

The Personal Cost

Humanitarian work exacts a heavy toll. In Goma,days blurred into weeks,filled with meetings and solitary evenings in a hotel frequented by armed individuals. During Ramadan, under a city-wide curfew, he shared simple meals, the city trembling with uncertainty.

Blood tests conducted upon his return to Dakar revealed significant health concerns.

“It was a significant personal sacrifice,” he admitted,acknowledging the physical and mental strain. “Humanitarians must prioritize their own well-being, too.”

A Seasoned Veteran

Dr. Baldé has years of experience responding to disasters. He began his career with the Canadian Red Cross following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, before participating in efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak in Guinea. Since joining the WHO in 2017, he has responded to numerous emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

I did everything I could to go back, but I paid a price.

Despite his extensive experience, Goma left a profound mark.

“I did everything I could to go back, but I paid a price,” he reflected.

His family in Senegal shares this burden. His children are aware of his deployments to conflict zones, and his wife has learned to navigate his prolonged absences. Yet, when recounting his time in eastern DRC, one conviction prevails: “I had to be there.”

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