Article: The escalation of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo leads to a record number of displaced people
In a press release published recently, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced alarming news: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) now has a record number of displaced people, reaching 6.9 million people who have had to leave their homes within the country. This situation demonstrates the scale of the humanitarian crisis and internal displacement that the DRC is currently experiencing.
According to the IOM, the majority of these displaced people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The ongoing conflict and escalating violence have plunged the DRC into one of the largest internal displacement and humanitarian crises in the world. The eastern provinces of the country, notably North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika, are home to the majority of these displaced people.
North Kivu alone has nearly a million people displaced due to the conflict with M23 terrorists. More than two thirds of the displaced, or nearly 4.8 million people, live with host families who demonstrate great generosity towards these populations in distress.
The security situation, particularly in North Kivu and Ituri, continues to deteriorate, leading to increasingly frequent population displacements and growing humanitarian needs. Fabien Sambussy, IOM Chief of Mission in the DRC, said: “The most recent escalation of the conflict has uprooted more people in less time than ever before. We urgently need to provide aid to those who need it most.”
Faced with security concerns and limited humanitarian access, the UN, through IOM, is committed to providing essential assistance to displaced people, returnees and host communities affected by the crisis. The aim is to assist an additional 10,000 households, or 50,000 people, by January 2024. However, IOM emphasizes that many more people desperately need help to meet their basic needs. Unfortunately, IOM’s operations in the DRC are significantly underfunded, with only a third of the requested US$100 million received to date.
This internal displacement crisis in the DRC is a major concern that requires increased international attention. The urgency of the situation requires international solidarity and financial support to help displaced people rebuild their lives and host communities to face the increasing challenges.
It is essential to raise awareness about this little-known humanitarian crisis and mobilize the necessary resources to provide adequate humanitarian assistance to these millions of displaced people.. The DRC needs constant attention from the international community to find lasting solutions to end this crisis and prevent future violence.
In conclusion, the DRC faces an unprecedented internal displacement crisis, with 6.9 million people forced to leave their homes. The escalation of violence and the lack of security are worsening the already precarious humanitarian situation in the country. It is therefore urgent to mobilize the necessary resources and provide vital humanitarian assistance to help these vulnerable populations. The situation in the DRC must be at the center of international attention, in order to end this crisis and rebuild the country in peace and stability.