Almost 200,000 people have been forced from their homes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since November 2024 as intense clashes between government forces and armed groups escalate, the World Food Program (WFP) has reported. The violence, primarily driven by the resurgence of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, has violated an August 2024 ceasefire deal and further destabilized the volatile region.
Worsening Violence
The renewed fighting has swept across North Kivu and neighboring provinces, leaving a trail of displacement and reports of inter-community violence. The WFP warned on Wednesday that the humanitarian situation, already fragile due to years of protracted crises, is deteriorating rapidly, with the eastern provinces at the epicenter of the conflict.
“The conditions in the east of the DRC are dire, and the international community must act urgently to address the scale of this humanitarian disaster,” the agency said in its latest statement.
Food Insecurity Reaches Critical Levels
The crisis is compounded by widespread food insecurity, with an estimated 25.6 million people across the DRC facing hunger. Of this number, 6.2 million are in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, where acute food shortages are threatening millions of lives.
In response, the WFP has scaled up its emergency operations, delivering aid to displaced individuals, refugees, and host communities in the most affected areas. Despite these efforts, the needs far outweigh the available resources.
Strategic Town Falls to M23 Rebels
Adding to the turmoil, M23 rebels have retaken the strategic town of Masisi in North Kivu, a move confirmed by Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the DRC, last Thursday.
Ekenge expressed confidence in the military’s ability to reclaim the town, stating, “The war has its ups and downs. We may lose a battle, but the final victory will belong to the Congolese people.”
The M23 rebellion, which has been a key driver of instability in the region, has raised fears of prolonged conflict and further displacement.
A Call for Global Support
The DRC’s eastern provinces remain a hotspot for violence, displacement, and humanitarian need. As the conflict shows no signs of abating, calls for increased international support are growing louder.
With millions of lives at stake, the situation in the eastern DRC is a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable peace efforts and long-term solutions to one of the world’s most protracted crises.