Concern is growing as violence persists and the humanitarian situation deteriorates alarmingly in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Humanitarian Coordinator in the DRC, Bruno Lemarquis, has expressed deep concern over recent deadly attacks by non-state armed groups against civilians in the region. These heinous acts resulted in a tragic death toll of 41 in Beni, North Kivu province, on 7 June, bringing the death toll to 57 since 3 June.
The east of the country is a region where violence seems uncontrollable. In Ituri province in particular, an average of 100 deaths per month were recorded between January and May due to abuses perpetrated by armed groups operating in the territories of Djugu, Irumu and Mambasa. This spiral of violence has forced more than 67,000 people to flee to areas considered safer in Beni, North Kivu, over the past two weeks. In response to this acute humanitarian crisis, UN partners have mobilized teams to assess the urgent needs of the affected populations.
The Humanitarian Coordinator in the DRC has launched an urgent appeal to all armed groups and their supporters to respect the principles of international humanitarian and human rights law. He stressed the importance of protecting civilians, ensuring unhindered humanitarian access and facilitating relief operations. The figures speak for themselves: between January and April, more than 900,000 new displaced people were registered in Ituri and the provinces of North and South Kivu, bringing the total number of displaced people in eastern DRC to more than 7.3 million. Unfortunately, funding for the 2024 Response Plan for the DRC remains well below needs, with only $593 million mobilized out of the $2.6 billion required.
Despite these constraints, humanitarian aid has spared no effort, with more than 3.5 million people receiving assistance between January and April. The international community, faced with this unprecedented humanitarian crisis, must urgently strengthen its commitment and solidarity with vulnerable populations in the DRC. It is crucial that concrete and effective actions are taken to end the violence and guarantee the security of civilians in this troubled region. The fate of millions of people depends on it.