Source: UN News: Monday, 29 December 2025 00:01 AM
In South Kivu province, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), half a million people are reported to have been forcibly displaced, facing shortages of food and other essential services, as fighting flared up again this month. The armed group M23 has again intensified its attacks in South Kivu province this month. world food program ,WFP) said on Tuesday that humanitarian aid was being delivered to 2.1 million people displaced by violence. DRC’s eastern region is rich in minerals and other natural resources, but has been plagued by conflicts and wars for the past several decades. A large number of armed groups have been active in this area. Tweet URL
A large number of civilian casualties have been reported as fighting escalated between the Rwanda-backed M23 group and government security forces. Cynthia Jones, Country Director of the UN agency for the DRC, said the hunger crisis risks worsening if urgent action is not taken. She said families providing shelter to people facing homelessness are also struggling with food insecurity at an emergency level. Host families are sharing their depleted food supplies “with displaced neighbors, causing all of them to become increasingly desperate.” Health centers have been looted, medicine is unavailable and schools are closed after violence erupted in South Kivu province, deprived of medicines and water. Affected communities are deprived of clean water, medical care and livelihood. The education of students has been deeply affected and 3.91 lakh children are out of school. As a result, many people have turned to neighboring countries in search of food and shelter. Hot meals are being provided to 71 thousand people arriving in Burundi from the DRC and one thousand in Rwanda. Difficult due to funding cuts, the UN Food Program is engaged in efforts to provide assistance to displaced families and their host communities living in vulnerable conditions in South Kivu province. They have been given a package of grains, pulses, vegetable oil, salt and nutritious food to prevent malnutrition among young children and pregnant and lactating women. Can be done. Some food items had already been stored in the area affected by violent conflict, which is now being distributed. Also, an appeal was made to continue the aid campaign in the next three months. Its aim is to deliver assistance to those forced to flee the DRC ($67 million) and to support all programs across the country ($350 million). WFP official Cynthia Jones said that without immediate support and additional funding, we will not be able to tackle a crisis that is on the verge of becoming a catastrophic hunger crisis.
