Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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November 7, 2025 Humanitarian aid
The humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to rapidly worsen due to ongoing fighting, which has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warns.
Access of humanitarian organizations to areas, captured at the beginning of the year The M23 armed group remains extremely challenging, with a significant shortfall in aid funding further exacerbating the situation.
According to WFP Director in the DRC, Cynthia Jones, aid can be delivered more effectively if air access is restored.
"Two airports in M23-controlled areas have been effectively closed since the end of January… We urgently call for the creation of a humanitarian air corridor," she said, speaking via video link from Kinshasa at a briefing in Geneva on Friday.
Emergency situation
According to a new analysis within the framework Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)Nearly 25 million people in the DR Congo face a nutritional crisis (level 3 on the IPC scale). Particularly alarming is the fact that nearly three million people are in a state of emergency (phase 4) – almost double the number last year.
"This means families are missing meals, losing their livelihoods, selling their animals," Jones explained.
In some areas of eastern DR Congo, people are already dying of hunger, according to the WFP.
Meanwhile, as the UN agency representative noted, fighting between M23 and government forces continues, triggering new waves of displacement. There are currently approximately 5.2 million internally displaced people in the eastern part of the country, 1.6 million of whom have fled their homes this year. This is one of the largest crises of its kind in the world.
Financial crisis
At the same time, the WFP is experiencing acute shortage of fundsThe agency was forced to reduce the amount of assistance it provided: at the beginning of the year, 1 million people received it, and now only 600,000 people.
Without additional funding, only a small fraction of those in need will receive the support they need, Jones noted, calling for $350 million over the next six months. Otherwise, she said, the WFP will be forced to halve its assistance. 300,000 people will receive it—just 10 percent of those who need it.
Without an urgent influx of funds, all emergency food aid programs in eastern DRC could collapse by March 2026.
The financial crisis also affects the organization itself.
"We're closing offices, cutting costs, reducing staff, and trying to maintain a minimum operating capacity in an extremely challenging environment," Jones said.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid is vital for displaced people in the provinces of North and South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika. People lack access to money and other means of subsistence.
"Women, children, and men—all suffer from relentless violence perpetrated by non-state armed groups. People are fleeing conflict, exhausted, and desperate for peace," the WFP representative emphasized.
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