Crisis of Hunger in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
In the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a growing crisis of hunger is threatening millions of lives. The World Food Programme (WFP) has highlighted that it is only able to reach a small fraction of those in need due to severe funding shortages and complex access challenges.
Cynthia Jones, the WFP Director for the DRC, addressed a UN press conference from Kinshasa, emphasizing the dire situation in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika. She stated that one in three people in these regions are facing crisis levels of hunger or worse, which equates to over 10 million individuals. Among them, an alarming 3 million people are in emergency levels of hunger, representing 75% of all those in such conditions nationwide. This number has increased by 700,000 since March 2025.
The region has experienced repeated displacement, with a total of 5.2 million people forced from their homes. Of this number, 1.6 million have been displaced this year alone. The ongoing violence in eastern Congo, particularly the resurgence of the M23 rebel group in 2021, has worsened the situation significantly. The M23 now controls significant territory, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, which they seized earlier this year. The airports in these cities have been shut down for months, further complicating humanitarian efforts.
The UN, the DRC government, and other international bodies accuse neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23, although Rwandan authorities deny these allegations. According to Jones, the conflict is driving families into urban centers like Ituri, where displaced families arrive exhausted and hungry. Local communities, already struggling to cope, are overwhelmed by the influx of new arrivals.
Impact on Agriculture and Daily Life
Millions of subsistence farmers have been forced from their homes or are too fearful to access their land, leading to missed planting seasons this year. Families are regularly skipping meals, selling their last goats, and pulling children from school. Markets have been destroyed, and basic services have collapsed under the weight of conflict. Humanitarian access is also collapsing, compounding the challenges faced by the population.
Since February, repeated bank closures have disrupted the WFP’s efforts to provide cash transfers, preventing the injection of cash into local markets and supporting the local people and economy. Additionally, the rainy season is exacerbating road conditions, hindering access to some of the most vulnerable communities.
Jones emphasized the urgent need for $349 million to continue delivering emergency food and nutrition assistance over the next six months. Without this funding, the WFP will be forced to make further cuts, potentially reducing aid to as few as 300,000 people.
Ongoing Challenges and Future Outlook
The situation in eastern DRC remains dire, with the WFP and other humanitarian organizations working tirelessly to address the growing needs of the population. However, the combination of conflict, displacement, and economic instability continues to challenge their efforts. As the rainy season progresses, the difficulties in accessing affected areas are expected to persist, making it even harder to deliver essential aid.
The international community must step up its support to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive the necessary assistance. With the situation deteriorating rapidly, the need for immediate and sustained action has never been more critical.