The crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is worsening day by day, affected by a persistent armed conflict that is causing a massive exodus of people and acute famine. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has warned that as fighting intensifies, tens of thousands of people are being forced to leave their homes, while humanitarian aid is facing serious difficulties in reaching the hardest-hit areas.
Access to the M23 rebel-controlled provinces, a group backed by Rwanda, has become an almost impossible mission. Despite Kigali’s repeated denials of its support for the M23, the crisis has been exacerbated by a growing lack of resources. Cynthia Jones, WFP director in the DRC, emphasized the urgency of restoring air access to the most critical areas, as two airports have remained closed since late January.
The numbers are alarming: around 25 million people are suffering from high levels of food insecurity, and three million are in what is considered “emergency” hunger conditions. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year, forcing many families to skip meals and sell their belongings, including their animals, to survive.
The ongoing violence between the M23 and government forces has triggered a new cycle of displacement in the country, with approximately 5.2 million people displaced to date. Of these, 1.6 million have been forced to leave their homes just in 2023, positioning the DRC as one of the most severe displacement crises in the world.
Despite the growing need for humanitarian assistance, available funding is drastically decreasing. The WFP has had to reduce its number of beneficiaries from nearly one million to just 600,000 currently. With an urgent request for $350 million to maintain food assistance over the next six months, the agency has warned that without an increase in funding, it will be forced to limit its support to only 300,000 people, which represents barely 10% of those who truly need help.
The lack of resources not only puts communities at risk but has also led the WFP to close offices and reduce staff in an increasingly insecure environment. The collapse of essential services is imminent, and emergency food assistance is expected to be completely interrupted by March 2026.
The situation is further complicated by the loss of the planting season, as many farmers have had to leave their land. Host communities, especially in urban areas like Ituri, are struggling to meet the basic needs of the displaced, who continue to suffer the harsh consequences of the violence. Jones concluded by reiterating that “they are exhausted and need peace,” emphasizing the urgency of effective humanitarian intervention.
via: MiMub in Spanish