The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to worsen, fueled by violent conflicts in the eastern province, forcing many families to flee once again.
Since February, 230,000 people have taken refuge in Goma due to the M23 conflict, bringing the total estimated number of displaced people to nearly a million around the city, almost double what it was four years ago. month.
Continuing clashes have plagued eastern Congo for decades, with more than 120 armed groups competing for land and power, and in some cases protecting their communities.
The government has reported that violence in the east has led to recurring conflicts and a wave of attacks sowing terror among populations.
In recent years, the M23 rebel group, considered the most dominant in the region with alleged links to neighboring Rwanda, has continued to attack villages, forcing many residents to flee to Goma, the region’s largest city. .
The M23 has besieged several communities, controlling approximately half of North Kivu province.
Violence in the province has intensified in recent weeks with security forces battling rebels.
Residents reported that the group’s fighters mainly launch bomb attacks from hills overlooking remote towns.
Families face severe shortages, living in inadequate shelter and having limited access to water, food and protection from abuse.
In the DRC, the World Food Program (WFP) emergency response in the east has tripled its benefit reach, from an average of 400,000 people in May 2023 to 1.3 million people today.
Nearly a million people have been displaced by conflict since the start of the year, leading to food shortages and rising prices of basic goods in Goma’s markets.
Nearly a quarter of the DRC’s population – 23.4 million people – face critical levels of hunger or worse.
Many live in precarious and confined conditions, with little or no access to food, health services and education.
At the heart of this growing food crisis is a worrying situation for women and girls, particularly those living in IDP camps, where they are under constant threat of sexual violence.
Funding shortages are forcing the WFP to choose who gets food and who goes without, especially in the east where humanitarian needs and conflicts are increasing.
WFP requires $548.5 million to maintain full operations in the DRC.