GLOBAL EMERGENCY UPDATE:
Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Context

Since January 2025, internal conflict has intensified in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, leading to the displacement of 4 million people in the region and 7 million across the country. Insecurity has fully disrupted people’s livelihoods and devastated the local economy. Humanitarian concerns are escalating rapidly, with health facilities overwhelmed. Displaced families and communities in conflict are facing widespread lack of food, clean drinking water, and cash assistance for food and basic supplies.

This crisis comes at a time of funding cuts and shortfalls for international humanitarian programming. People are in such need that mothers are doing backbreaking work to earn enough to feed their children. Today, an estimated 25 million people in the eastern part of the country are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.

Clashes between government armed forces and the rebel paramilitary group known as M23, backed by the Rwandan army, have intensified this year in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu. The fighting culminated in a battle over control of Goma, which M23 ultimately captured in late January. In February, M23 forces took control of the provincial capital of Bukavu.

Uncertainties and fear continue to push thousands of families to seek safe refuge outside of town or in improvised shelters. Nearly 3,000 people have reportedly been killed in and around Goma. The Goma airport, crucial for humanitarian assistance, remains closed.

A Rapidly Escalating Humanitarian Crisis In Goma

With the surge of displacement in and around Goma, many health centers, schools, churches, community shelters and water and sanitation facilities are overburdened, straining the capacities of local host communities. Displaced families are at risk of harm and even death as they are less able to feed and provide for themselves. Recent assessments by the World Food Program revealed that nearly three-quarters of the internally displaced population in Goma are living off a diet so poor it is contributing to malnutrition, especially for children under age 5. Many families have had to sell their belongings for money or have lost them as they seek safer refuge.

The lack of security is preventing people, including vendors, from accessing markets—and when people are able to access markets, there is very little supply available. Banks have closed in some areas, and unstable supply chains have led to higher prices. Recently, cholera outbreaks were reported in collective centers in North Kivu. With limited opportunity to earn an income in areas of displacement, many families have resorted to begging.

CRS and Partner Response

Since the start of this crisis, CRS has supported the provision of lifesaving food with Caritas partners in Nyiragongo, near Goma. Working in coordination with Caritas Goma and other Caritas members, priorities include:  

• The direct provision of food or voucher assistance where local markets are accessible. 
• Critical living and household items like cookware and sanitation supplies for families to meet daily needs with dignity. 

CRS is currently providing three months of food assistance for 4,140 families—17,375 individuals—in the Nyiragongo Health Zone. CRS’ partner Caritas Bukavu is also supporting 1,110 displaced families in Ihoka by distributing critical supplies. Additionally, for refugees in Burundi, CRS is providing essential items at transit centers near the border, including hygiene kits, nutritional supplements and basic household and living supplies for 18,580 people.

CRS is providing a cross-border response to the crisis in the following ways: 

In Rwanda 

• Supporting local partners as they assist the Rwandan government’s response to the crisis. 

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

• Scaling up programming in Goma and Bukavu to reach displaced families. 
• Providing immediate, lifesaving food assistance to extremely vulnerable populations in North and South Kivu. 

In Burundi 

• Expanding support in transit camps located in Bubanza and Cibitoke. 
• Distributing essential supplies through a coordinated response with trusted local partners. 

Before the recent U.S. government humanitarian funding cuts, CRS was implementing two U.S. government-funded food security, livelihoods and resilience programs that were reaching nearly 110,000 families—550,000 people—in the Kasai Central, South Kivu and Tanganyika provinces. Although one CRS project has been reinstated, it remains at a standstill because no funding has been received to continue food assistance. Without continued assistance in the next six months, at least 3 million people in the DRC are expected to suffer from extreme hunger and malnutrition. 

CRS Roots in the Democratic Republic of Congo

CRS first began supporting families and communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1961 and is uniquely positioned to respond to a crisis of this magnitude. Our extensive years of assistance have deepened our roots and built substantial experience in critical areas of the country, engaging diverse groups and stakeholders. Our country program teams operate with deep knowledge of local contexts and communities, particularly through recent activities in the provinces of North and South Kivu and the cities of Bubanza and Cibitoke.

With both local and national-level capacity, CRS can thoughtfully, safely and effectively adapt and expand our assistance to meet the evolving needs of people in current and new program areas. We remain steadfast in our commitment to support those in greatest need, regardless of national, racial, religious, economic or ideological differences.