Humanitarian Alert in the Democratic Republic of Congo: The East of the Country Plunged into a Deep Crisis
The United Nations has expressed grave concerns over an increasingly alarming humanitarian situation, exacerbated by armed clashes in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ongoing fighting in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces has led to massive population displacements and hindered access to essential services for many people in the region.
OCHA reported that the rise in violence has resulted in the closure of half of the 18 health facilities in the Walikale territory. Furthermore, over 480 schools are currently shut down, depriving more than 128,000 children of their education.
“The situation is worsened by a severe lack of adequate nutritional support, limited humanitarian intervention capacities, and growing food insecurity,” the agency added.
Based on the latest report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), OCHA highlighted that approximately a quarter of the Congolese population is facing significant acute food insecurity.
Last February, the United Nations, in collaboration with Congolese authorities, launched a humanitarian response plan valued at $2.54 billion to assist 11 million people by 2025.
Among these 11 million, 7.8 million are internally displaced individuals, representing one of the highest levels in the world. The UN’s press service added that over 21 million people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are affected by various crises, including armed conflicts, natural disasters, and epidemics.
