The food crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to worsen, as the World Food Program (WFP) warns of a funding gap of 567 million US dollars. This amount represents 78% of the funds needed for the next six months. The consequences of this crisis are dramatic, with 25.8 million people in a situation of food insecurity.
The DRC is facing massive population displacements, as well as the destruction of infrastructure and disruption of agricultural activities, leading to reduced yields and widespread food shortages. The provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu are particularly affected, housing 6.7 million people who are food insecure, or 44% of the provincial population.
The situation is all the more worrying in the east of the country, where the ongoing conflict is having a devastating impact on food security, malnutrition, health, access to drinking water and shelter. Nearly 6 million displaced people are in the eastern provinces, and WFP provided assistance to around 1.2 million people in July. However, without additional funding, it is unlikely that more people can be helped.
WFP is therefore making an urgent appeal to donors to support its response efforts in the eastern region of the DRC. It is estimated that $728 million is needed to strengthen the organization’s operations in this region. The support of governments, donors and humanitarian partners is crucial to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the DRC.
The food crisis in the DRC is having disastrous consequences on the population, with nearly 1.5 million people experiencing emergency food insecurity, and 4.4 million people suffering from malnutrition. Moreover, the lack of access to essential services worsens the protection of civilians and fuels gender-based violence.
It is therefore imperative to act quickly to provide adequate assistance to the population. WFP stressed the need for immediate attention to the situation in eastern DRC. Lives are at stake, and inaction could have incalculable consequences.
In conclusion, the food crisis in the DRC is increasingly worrying, with a significant funding gap for the operations of the World Food Program. It is essential that donors respond to this urgent call to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe