More than one million children in the Democratic Republic of Congo are at risk of acute malnutrition as escalating violence exacerbates the needs of millions of displaced people, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday.
The conflict between Congolese forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia in the eastern regions of the country has worsened over the past two years, displacing 2.7 million people in North Kivu alone. Severe flooding, landslides, and ongoing conflicts in other areas have further increased the humanitarian crisis, with approximately 25 million people currently in need of aid, according to the WHO.
“If immediate action is not taken to address basic needs in DRC, over 1 million children will suffer from acute malnutrition,” stated WHO’s Senior Emergency Officer Adelheid Marschang during a press briefing in Geneva.
The widespread and recurrent food insecurity in conflict-affected areas has driven the surge in acute malnutrition, Marschang explained. The children at risk are primarily those displaced by fighting in eastern regions and in the central Kasai provinces. Currently, hundreds of thousands of children are already suffering from acute malnutrition, making them more susceptible to infections and diseases, requiring sustained treatment.
This year, the WHO has reported over 20,000 cases of cholera and 60,000 cases of measles across the country, though the actual numbers are likely higher due to inadequate surveillance.
“The needs are increasing exponentially, especially very recently, and the projections indicate that this trend will continue,” Marschang added.
Humanitarian access has been significantly hindered by military presence around displacement sites and health facilities, bureaucratic obstacles, and roadblocks disrupting aid delivery.
The UN’s $2.6 billion funding plan for Congo is currently only 26% funded, highlighting the urgent need for additional support.