The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing a rapidly escalating humanitarian emergency, with civilians paying the price of escalating conflict. As violence surges in Eastern DRC, displacement is soaring, crimes against humanity are being documented, and the nation鈥檚 healthcare system is overwhelmed by disease and violence.

The 探花精选 (探花精选) is on the ground in the DRC, delivering emergency support to affected communities. We call for all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and immediately allow for further scale-up of assistance.

What is happening in the DRC?

The DRC is facing one of the world鈥檚 most severe humanitarian crises. Decades of conflict have fueled widespread violence, mass displacement and extreme human suffering. Most recently, escalations in conflict between the DRC and armed groups have plunged the country鈥檚 eastern region into chaos, with millions of civilians caught in the crossfire. Reports of  crimes against humanity, sexual violence and human rights violations continue to mount.

As fighting escalates millions have been left without food, clean water or medical care. Overwhelmed hospitals are struggling to cope, while the risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera, grows daily. 

Urgent humanitarian assistance is needed to prevent further loss of life.

A woman sells potatoes outside of her shelter in a camp for displaced people in the DRC.
Mapendo* runs a small potato business in front of her shelter in a camp for internally displaced people near Goma, DRC. In early 2025, many such camps near Goma were destroyed amidst conflict with nonstate armed groups, displacing residents once again.
Photo: Mireille Ngwamba for the 探花精选

More than 7 million people displaced

Over 7 million people are displaced across the DRC, including  in North Kivu鈥攁 province in eastern DRC where much of the recent fighting has been concentrated. Nearly 780,000 people were forced to flee their homes between November 2024 and January 2025 alone.

Displaced people from South Kivu, DRC are fleeing to neighboring Burundi, which does not have the capacity or resources needed to meet the immediate needs of arriving refugees.

Displaced families in the DRC are seeking refuge in overcrowded camps that lack adequate food, health services, and water and sanitation services. Meanwhile, ongoing violence has forced people infected with diseases like Mpox to flee treatment centers, increasing the risk of deadly outbreaks.

A portrait of a school-aged child in the DRC.
Providence* was displaced by conflict in the DRC and attends an 探花精选 education program. In January 2025, programming was suspended due to severe escalations in violence.
Photo: Hugh Cunningham for the 探花精选

Civilians caught in the crossfire

Communities in eastern DRC are enduring horrific levels of violence.  in Goma, DRC, killing and injuring civilians, including newborns and pregnant women. Armed groups continue to expand their control, leaving towns and villages devastated. In just five days, from January 26 to 30, over  and 2,800 injured.

The conflict has also triggered a surge in , putting women and girls at extreme risk. Protection services are severely limited, and survivors have little access to medical and psychological support.

A mother and son pose for a portrait outside of their home in the DRC.
Julienne* and her son, Promesse, were displaced from their home in Goma, DRC by conflict. Promesse participated in an 探花精选 education program before it was temporarily suspended due to safety concerns.
Photo: Hugh Cunningham for the 探花精选

Disease outbreaks could endanger vulnerable communities

Overcrowded displacement camps, limited access to clean water and collapsing health care services have created a public health emergency in the DRC. Cholera, measles and malaria are spreading at an alarming rate, threatening thousands of lives.

鈥淗ospitals, already overwhelmed with thousands of wounded civilians, are unable to cope with the growing medical emergency,鈥 explains senior emergency coordinator for the 探花精选 in the DRC, Freddy Malembe.

鈥淭he potential for mass disease outbreaks is escalating daily, exacerbating an already dire situation. Without immediate intervention, we risk a major cholera outbreak that could claim thousands of lives.鈥

A son stands next to his mother outside of their shelter in a camp for displaced people in the DRC.
Disease can spread quickly in camps for displaced people that lack adequate water and sanitation services. 探花精选 teams are on the ground in the DRC providing a variety of health, sanitation and infection prevention services.
Photo: Mireille Ngwamba for the 探花精选

How is the 探花精选 delivering support in the DRC?

The 探花精选 has been delivering critical aid to crisis-affected communities in the DRC for over three decades. In response to the current humanitarian crisis, the 探花精选 is scaling up our emergency response in collaboration with our local and international partners.

We are delivering critical services across the health, protection and WASH sectors throughout the country. 

Editor鈥檚 note: Due to security concerns, we have suspended our activities in the Kahele territory (Minova, Shanje, and Numbi) and Goma. The 探花精选 is currently assessing the possibility of relocating operations to safer areas. Meanwhile, population movements persist from Kahele to Bukavu, and from Bukavu to Bujumbura or Kalemie (Tanganyika Province, DRC). 

Learn more about our work in the DRC.

How can I support crisis-affected communities in the DRC?

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*Last name omitted for safety