The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Tuesday its efforts to increase aid to over 210,000 people displaced by renewed violence from the armed group M23. Cynthia Jones, WFP Country Director for the DRC, warned of a potential worsening hunger crisis without immediate action. She highlighted the dire situation of families sheltering displaced persons, who are already facing severe food insecurity.
In South Kivu, the violence has resulted in the looting of health facilities, lack of medicines, and school closures, leaving communities without access to safe water, medical care, and disrupted education—with over 391,000 children out of school. Many have fled to neighboring countries seeking food and shelter, with WFP teams assisting 71,000 new arrivals in Burundi and 1,000 in Rwanda with hot meals.
WFP aims to provide vulnerable displaced families and host communities in South Kivu with essential food and nutrition packages to prevent malnutrition among young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Despite pre-positioned food supplies in the conflict area, WFP urgently needs $67 million to support displaced individuals for three months and $350 million to sustain all operations in the country. Without additional funding, the crisis risks escalating into a severe hunger catastrophe, said Ms. Jones.
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