More than one-fifth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s population — nearly 25 million people — are experiencing severe acute food insecurity, the United Nations warned on Wednesday. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the crisis is being driven by escalating violence in the east and mass displacement as fighting intensifies between M23 rebels and government forces.
Clashes have surged since January, with M23 capturing key towns and strategic supply routes near Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, and Bukavu in neighboring South Kivu. Human Rights Watch reports that the group, one of more than 100 armed factions active in eastern Congo, has left thousands dead in its latest offensive. Dujarric said that communities in North Kivu are among the hardest hit, with over 1,000 civilians killed since the start of the year and at least 400,000 people displaced in Beni and Lubero territories alone.
The conflict has crippled agriculture and disrupted trade routes, worsening food shortages and undermining local markets. “Assaults by armed groups are preventing farmers from planting and harvesting, while roadblocks are cutting off essential supply lines,” Dujarric noted. The destruction has also severely impacted the healthcare system. Six medical facilities have been attacked since January 2025, bringing the total to at least 28 since early 2024. More than half of these are now non-functional, leaving over 150,000 people without access to vital medical services.
Humanitarian operations have also been hampered by insecurity and unexploded ordnance, with aid agencies warning that they cannot reach those most in need unless access improves. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis projects that the number of people facing acute hunger could rise to 27 million in the first half of 2026, with several regions approaching IPC Phase 4 — a level defined by severe food shortages and widespread malnutrition.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has urged all armed groups to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and safeguard critical infrastructure. As the crisis deepens, aid workers warn that without improved security and unrestricted access, millions could be pushed to the brink of famine.
