Aid agencies warn acute hunger is stalking every four people in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Warning from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) followed by a new disaster assessment from UN partner food security experts has revealed the famine crisis affecting much of this vast Central African country.
The besieged eastern region is a particular concern, where the situation is deteriorating after decades of fighting involving about 100 armed groups – including the M23 militia – who vie for power. control vast natural resources, threatening regional security.
“In such a fragile context, the cost of inaction is truly unimaginable,” said Peter Musoko, Country Director and representative of WFP in the DRC. “Together, we need to work with the Government and the humanitarian community to increase resources for this neglected crisis.”
Comprehensive emergency
A map of the DRC from the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report shows that almost all regions are affected by “crisis” hunger level – IPC3, with the five highest levels of danger.
More than 3.1 million mainly displaced people and returnees in northeastern DRC are in an even worse situation – IPC4 – characterized by severe food shortages, high levels of acute malnutrition and excessive illness, along with an increased risk of death from starvation.
Humanitarians are particularly concerned about vulnerable communities in North Kivu, Ituri and South Kivu provinces, where more than 6.5 million people are displaced. Tanganyika has also suffered intense flooding and is currently the “most food insecure” province in the DRC.
Tragedy is preventable
UN agencies note that the humanitarian emergency is largely preventable and continues to be fueled by unrelenting armed violence involving the resource-rich eastern region, conflict and Food prices increased.
The Democratic Republic of Congo “boasts fertile lands, abundant water resources and is self-sufficient in food production,” FAO and WFP said in a joint statement.
They stressed that the country has struggled to become self-sufficient in food production amid rising conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the impact of climate change, epidemics and lack of investment. into rural development.
“The IPC figures speak for themselves – we need to take action and ensure that livelihood support is provided at the right level,” said FAO representative Aristide Ongone Obame. impacts of climate change in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and livestock.
UN call for support
Despite needing more available resources, WFP reached 1.95 million people in October 2024 alone. But as humanitarian needs continue to grow, the UN agency needs $350 million in six months to continue providing “essential food and nutritional support” to the most vulnerable.
In 2024, FAO needs $233.9 million to implement relief projects in the DRC. By the end of September, it had supported 3 million people out of its target of 3.6 million and “needed more financial resources to meet the current gap”.
In the previous update for Security CouncilBintou Keita, Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), expressed deep concern about the rapid expansion of M23 fighters in the east of the country, including North Kivu, and its advance into South Kivu.
“The rapidly escalating M23 crisis has a very real risk of provoking a broader regional conflict,” she said, noting that the Group of Experts reports to the Council’s sanctions committee discovered that Rwanda has increased its support for M23.
