"Health facilities in Uvira, in the eastern DRC's conflict-ravaged South Kivu province, have been plunged into crisis despite a US-brokered ceasefire between the government troops and M23 militants. Footage captured on Tuesday shows patients waiting outside Uvira General Referral Hospital, while residents walked through neighbourhoods and traffic crawled along the city’s main roads. Local leader Didime Kamunobe said the influx of wounded civilians has far exceeded the city’s medical capacity. “Following the bomb attacks that took place here, many people were injured […] Unfortunately, many die for lack of doctors and proper care,” Kamunobe said. “Uvira previously had nine doctors, but now there are only three. How can these three doctors possibly provide services in all the hospitals in Uvira?” he added. Residents say the crisis extends beyond staffing shortages. Kigwati Ben Branham, a local, pointed to strikes by nurses and worsening economic conditions that have further paralysed services. “What I can ask for is peace. If there is peace, everything will be fine; if not, nothing will work,” he said. On Wednesday, DRC Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya claimed the reported M23 pullout from Uvira was a 'distraction', saying "what we want is the full withdrawal... from our territories." The withdrawal itself could not be independently verified. The pullout was part of the 'Washington Accords', a peace and economic deal signed by the leaders with US President Donald Trump recently. The seizure of Uvira by the M23 just days before the Accords were signed was described by ​​US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a 'clear violation'."