As the situation worsens in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) urges swift and comprehensive action to address the serious humanitarian issue. One of the world’s most ignored crises is now bearing its burden, with those uprooted by the violence bearing the brunt.
As of October of last year, 6.9 million people were internally displaced in the DRC; this figure is anticipated to rise in light of the upcoming reports. By the end of May, the M23 rebel group had forced 1.77 million people to flee their homes in North Kivu alone. This is a startling 16% rise from the previous report.
The state of the humanitarian situation is terrible. Armed factions persist in intensifying bloodshed, leading to extensive uprooting and taxing an already precarious situation. The strategically positioned village of Kanyabayonga has been taken over in recent days, following a massacre in the Lubero area earlier this month that claimed 42 lives. Goma’s socioeconomic condition is proliferating because the city is still cut off from supplies. Civilians, including many displaced persons, continue to endure theft, burglary, abuse, and harassment despite efforts to curb crime.
The security of displaced persons is seriously jeopardised by the proximity of frontlines and the existence of weaponry in and near displacement areas. Over fifty individuals have been injured and at least 37 people have died as a result of sixteen accidents that occurred in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) sites in 2024 alone. It is also concerning that there is a rise in gender-based violence, including sexual assault and exploitation directed at women and girls.
In addition, the humanitarian problem has gotten worse due to natural disasters. In May alone, more than 50,000 people were forced to flee their homes due to flooding and landslides caused by rising water levels in Lake Tanganyika, torrential rains, and overflowed rivers, especially in South Kivu and Tanganyika.
Humanitarian organisations are still dedicated to saving lives despite major obstacles. The huge needs, however, cannot be met by the existing response. Most of the displaced people are staying with host families; approximately one million people live in locations managed by Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM). Of these, 421,995 reside in 81 IOM-managed locations where they have access to sanitary facilities, water, and shelter.
Because of its minimal exposure and the lack of international response, the DRC is regarded as one of the world’s forgotten crises. The dire situation in the DRC can only become worse if humanitarian capability and resources aren’t increased.
To execute a more robust, coordinated response, provincial authorities, humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development organisations must work together. This entails enhancing access to essential services and offering displaced populations rapid aid. Medium- and long-term remedies are also required, such as encouraging IDPs to return voluntarily when it is safe to do so and addressing the underlying causes of the conflict.
There is no doubt about the seriousness of the situation: immediate action is required to save millions of lives and lessen suffering in the DRC.
