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Country analysis

DRC


A complex emergency has persisted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for more than 20 years. Population displacement is frequent, with some people experiencing multiple displacement, mostly resulting from armed clashes between national and foreign armed forces, non-state armed groups, and/or self-defence groups. Intercommunal violence and floods also drive displacement.

As at December 2023, there were over 6.5 million IDPs across the country, mainly in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika provinces. Humanitarian needs are high, especially in the eastern provinces that are hosting about 81% of the IDPs. People recurrently face violence, food insecurity, flooding, and disease outbreaks. As at the end of 2023, over a million refugees from the DRC lived in African host countries. The DRC hosted over 523,000 refugees (mainly from Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Congo, Rwanda, and South Sudan).

Since March 2022, 3.3 million people have been displaced across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. Many displaced populations cannot return to their homes because of persisting violence, while their living conditions in the sites where they have spontaneously settled continue to deteriorate.

(OCHA 31/01/2024, IOM 30/10/2023, UNHCR accessed 06/02/2024 , VOA 30/10/2023)

A complex emergency has persisted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for more than 20 years. Population displacement is frequent, with some people experiencing multiple displacement, mostly resulting from armed clashes between national and foreign armed forces, non-state armed groups, and/or self-defence groups. Intercommunal violence and floods also drive displacement.

As at December 2023, there were over 6.5 million IDPs across the country, mainly in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika provinces. Humanitarian needs are high, especially in the eastern provinces that are hosting about 81% of the IDPs. People recurrently face violence, food insecurity, flooding, and disease outbreaks. As at the end of 2023, over a million refugees from the DRC lived in African host countries. The DRC hosted over 523,000 refugees (mainly from Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Congo, Rwanda, and South Sudan).

Since March 2022, 3.3 million people have been displaced across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. Many displaced populations cannot return to their homes because of persisting violence, while their living conditions in the sites where they have spontaneously settled continue to deteriorate.

(OCHA 31/01/2024, IOM 30/10/2023, UNHCR accessed 06/02/2024 , VOA 30/10/2023)

Latest updates on country situation

24 September 2024

Between 13–21 September 2024, members of rival non-state armed groups perpetrated a series of violent incidents in Djugu territory (Ituri province). They killed 31 civilians in Pimbo and Jina health zones and two in Djugu health zone. They also looted six health centres, displacing about 26,000 people to safer areas of Djaiba and IDP sites in Loda, Bule, and other towns]. Movement has been suspended on Route Nationale 27, affecting humanitarian access to around 60,000 IDPs and host communities in Drodro, Fataki, and Mangala health zones. (OCHA 24/09/2024, Radio Okapi 23/09/2024)

17 September 2024

Recent clashes between the March 23 Movement and the Wazalendo armed group have triggered population displacement in Rutshuru territory (Nord-Kivu). On 17 September 2024, it is reported that more than 31,200 people (6,000 households) had fled their villages in Kihondo to seek refuge in the locality of Bambo. The displaced people need assistance in shelter, protection, and health services. Local authorities have raised concerns about the impact of bad weather on the IDPs. (Radio Okapi 17/09/2024, Actualité.CD 16/09/2024)

27 August 2024

The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to be the country facing the highest impacts of the mpox epidemic, with 17,887 suspected cases and 609 potential deaths reported in 2024 by 22 August. Équateur, South Kivu, and Sud-Ubangui are the most affected provinces. Humanitarian needs include access to vaccination, clean drinking water, healthcare services, and waste management. (WHO 23/08/2024, MDM 23/08/2024)

11 June 2024

Between 3–8 June 2024, a series of attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces killed at least 57 people in Beni territory in Nord-Kivu. Besides the burning of several houses and looting of 25 motorcycles, the attack also triggered population displacement in the region. Such incidents may aggravate the humanitarian situation in Nord-Kivu, where displacements keep increasing since clashes resumed between the Congolese army and the March 23 movement in February 2024. Access concerns also led some humanitarian organisations to suspend their operations in Kanyabayonga on 4 June, affecting over 45,000 displaced people. (OCHA 10/06/2024, ICRC 04/06/2024, RFI 10/06/2024)

14 May 2024

Heavy rains in April 2024 have led to Lake Tanganyika overflowing, increasing needs in South Kivu and Tanganyika provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. By 8 May, flooding had affected about 471,000 people. 451,000 hectares of land, including 21,000 hectares of cropland, have also been inundated since early May. The affected people face the risk of diseases and need shelter, food, WASH, and health assistance. (WFP 08/05/2024, RFI 09/05/2024)

07 May 2024

On 3 April 2024, at least five rockets exploded in and around IDP camps located in the Goma-Sake region. The explosions killed at least 18 people, injured 32 others, and destroyed 26 temporary shelters and two water tanks. The recurrence of these incidents heightens the protection needs of civilians and is likely to further hamper humanitarian access in affected areas. (OCHA 06/05/2024, Forum ONGI RDC 06/05/2024)

16 April 2024

Between 11–13 April 2024, a series of attacks attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces killed 15 civilians in Beni city in North Kivu province. The perpetrators caused material damage, burnt motorcycles, and looted houses. These insecurity incidents may worsen the humanitarian conditions in Beni territory, where, as at 8 April, over 18,000 displaced people in Kamango health zone needed humanitarian assistance related to health, WASH, food, education, and protection. (La Prunelle RDC 14/04/2024, OCHA 08/04/2024)

current crises
in DRC


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

COD001 - Complex crisis

Last updated 30/10/2024


Drivers

Conflict
Displacement
Socio-political

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.4 Very High

Access constraints

4.0

Analysis products
on DRC

Democratic Republic of Congo: conflict-related displacement in North Kivu

21 June 2024

Democratic Republic of Congo: conflict-related displacement in North Kivu

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

In January 2024, violent incidents between the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) increased in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) province of North Kivu. 

Conflict and violenceDisplacement
Global increase of cholera: aggravated by vaccine shortage and El Niño

28 May 2024

Global increase of cholera: aggravated by vaccine shortage and El Niño

DOCUMENT / PDF / 341 KB

This report highlights the key contributing factors and aggravating conditions that can increase the global prevalence of cholera, focusing particularly on the impact of the global OCV shortage that is heightening humanitarian needs among affected populations and those vulnerable to spread. 

AudioHealthNatural hazards

Attached resources

Democratic Republic of Congo: conflict in North Kivu

27 February 2024

Democratic Republic of Congo: conflict in North Kivu

DOCUMENT / PDF / 733 KB

From mid-January 2024, there has been a spike in fighting between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the March 23 Movement (M23) in North Kivu province. 

Conflict and violence
DRC: analysis ecosystem (French)

20 December 2023

DRC: analysis ecosystem (French)

DOCUMENT / PDF / 500 KB

L’écosystème informationnel et analytique est composé d’une communauté d’acteurs qui participent ou contribuent à collecter, analyser et diffuser de l’information et des analyses concernant les crises et réponses humanitaires en RDC.

DRC: risk of violence in the upcoming general elections

18 December 2023

DRC: risk of violence in the upcoming general elections

DOCUMENT / PDF / 2 MB

This report presents a risk analysis of violence related to the general elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), set to take place on 20 December 2023. The report provides a brief of the current context and humanitarian situation in the country, maps out factors that could lead to violence during or after the electoral period (triggers), and identifies the potential humanitarian impacts of such violence (hazard).

Anticipatory analysisConflict and violence
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