Hospitals in Goma, a city in eastern Congo, are facing severe challenges as they treat hundreds of patients suffering from gunshot, mortar, and shrapnel injuries, while numerous corpses remain on the streets, according to reports from U.N. and other humanitarian organizations on Tuesday.

The situation escalated significantly on Monday when Rwandan-backed M23 rebels entered Goma, intensifying a conflict that has persisted for three decades, although they continue to encounter resistance from the Congolese army and their allies.

On Tuesday, reports indicated ongoing heavy small arms and mortar fire in the streets, with many deceased individuals visible, as noted by Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office, who referenced information from personnel in the area.

“The humanitarian conditions in and around Goma are extremely alarming,” Laerke stated during a briefing in Geneva. “Hospitals in Goma are reportedly overwhelmed and struggling to cope with the surge of injured individuals,” he added, mentioning incidents of sexual violence perpetrated by combatants.

Adelheid Marschang, the World Health Organization’s emergency response coordinator for Congo, reported that hundreds of patients have been admitted with gunshot and other injuries during the same briefing.

“We are receiving alarming reports of health workers being targeted and patients, including infants, caught in the crossfire,” she noted.

The Red Cross reported that one of its facilities had treated over 100 patients within a 24-hour period, many suffering from head injuries and chest trauma due to mortar and shrapnel, with patients waiting in hallways due to a lack of available beds.

“Disturbingly, we have observed a significant rise in the number of severely injured children,” remarked Patrick Youssef, regional director for Africa at the International Committee of the Red Cross.