GENEVA, Switzerland, December 21, 2023 — The humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached alarming levels in 2023, marked by widespread violence and an unprecedented surge in displacement, with nearly seven million people affected, as announced by the UN in late October. Approximately five million of these displaced individuals are concentrated in the eastern part of the country.
In North Kivu, armed clashes linked to the resurgence of the M23 armed group have compelled up to one million people to flee their homes. While the provinces of Ituri and South Kivu face similar violent upheavals, the severity of the humanitarian situation is exacerbated by limited aid, leaving the needs of the affected population overwhelmingly unmet.
The UN’s grim announcement in October highlighted the staggering scale of displacement, with five million people affected in the eastern region alone—a record-breaking figure. In North Kivu, ongoing violence, particularly involving the M23 armed group, has resulted in constant and massive movements of people across Rutshuru, Nyiragongo, and Masisi territories, intensifying the humanitarian disaster.
Germain Lubango Kabemba, MSF country representative in Goma, describes the situation in North Kivu as “catastrophic,” emphasizing the urgent need for intervention: “Wherever you look now, the urgency to act is there.”
Violence in North Kivu has also triggered waves of displacement into South Kivu, causing additional challenges, including an increase in cholera cases due to fragile hygiene conditions. The closure of health facilities in North Kivu, driven by insecurity, has further forced people seeking ongoing healthcare southward.
In Ituri, one-third of the population is now displaced after years of conflict, taking a toll on their mental and physical well-being. Alira Halidou, MSF head of mission in Ituri, notes the region’s decades-long disinvestment in basic medical services and infrastructure, making access to healthcare problematic even without conflict.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams witness daily the dire conditions faced by displaced individuals living in makeshift shelters without essential resources. Vulnerability to illness, infectious diseases like cholera and measles, and incidents of sexual violence, particularly affecting women, are widespread.
Alira Halidou underscores the urgency of addressing the massive humanitarian needs: “Today, more than ever before, displaced communities are in dire need of concrete and clear action from international humanitarian organizations in the face of this growing emergency.”
Despite repeated calls from MSF for increased aid mobilization, progress remains insufficient. The crisis in the DRC demands an urgent and united international response to spotlight and support the communities most in need, ensuring their voices are heard and acknowledged.
