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Eastern DRC faces catastrophe as violence, displacement surges

War-displaced people flee towards the city of Goma, eastern Republic of Congo, on November 15, 2022. (Photo: ALEXIS HUGUET/AFP)

By Hanifa Adan | 01 May 2024

The humanitarian efforts are severely hampered by funding shortages according to the statement, with only 16 per cent of the required $2.6 billion for this year's Humanitarian Response Plan having been secured.

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has issued a dire warning about the escalating conflict in the eastern regions of the country, stating that it is driving record levels of gender-based violence, displacement, and hunger, pushing the nation towards a catastrophic state without prompt international intervention.

"Decades of conflict have traumatized millions and brought about a humanitarian emergency that has now intensified, with over 700,000 people displaced in recent months alone," the committee noted, highlighting that the total number of displaced individuals has surged to an unprecedented 7.2 million.

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The humanitarian efforts are severely hampered by funding shortages according to the statement, with only 16 per cent of the required $2.6 billion for this year's Humanitarian Response Plan having been secured.

"The gap between the rapidly rising needs and the available resources means millions are left without the lifesaving support they need," the statement emphasised.

Gender-based violence

Particularly alarming is the surge in gender-based violence, with the committee reporting "unprecedented levels" of violence against women and girls.

"Minimal protection and security in crowded displacement camps force many to exchange sex for survival. Those venturing out for necessities like firewood or water also face appalling levels of sexual violence," the committee revealed.

The statement also highlighted the broader impacts of the crisis stating, "More than 25 million people, a quarter of the DRC's population, face crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. Health crises such as cholera and measles are spreading rapidly, further exacerbated by climate extremes linked to El Niño."

The committee calls for immediate international action to address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of the crisis, including ongoing conflict, exploitation of natural resources, and gender inequality.

"We must step up our support, mobilise additional resources, and foster the political will to end the violence," the committee urged, emphasising the critical need to support civil society and hold perpetrators of human rights violations accountable under international humanitarian law.