The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing a humanitarian crisis that has worsened over the past year due to an increase in violence and conflict. In response, the government and humanitarian organizations have launched the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan, which aims to mobilize US$2.25 billion to provide assistance to 10 million vulnerable people in the country.

North Kivu province, located in the east of the country, has been particularly affected, with over 600,000 people displaced since March 2022. Ituri province, which borders North Kivu, has also experienced increased violence, including intercommunal massacres in displacement sites. In South Kivu province, diseases like measles continue to affect thousands of people.

Food insecurity is a significant concern in the DRC, with 26.4 million people in the country facing food insecurity, making it the most food insecure country in the world. The conflict has also resulted in the displacement of 5.7 million people, making the DRC the African country with the largest number of internally displaced persons.

In 2022, humanitarian organizations were able to provide assistance to around five million people out of the 8.8 million targeted. Two million people suffering from malnutrition had access to nutritional therapeutic care, and over 2.5 million were able to access water, hygiene, and health aid. However, the humanitarian response was hampered by inadequate funding, with only 48% of the required funding of $1.88 billion received.

The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan aims to provide critical assistance to 10 million vulnerable people across the DRC. The government and humanitarian community have called for $2.25 billion in funding to achieve this goal. With adequate funding, the response plan will help address the humanitarian crisis in the DRC, including providing assistance to those affected by violence and conflict, reducing food insecurity, and improving access to essential services like health and water.