The Democratic Republic of Congo Humanitarian Emergency

A woman smiles down at her son.
Robin Hammond/Panos Pictures

The humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has deteriorated dramatically over the past year. The crisis is complex and has stretched people’s coping mechanisms. A surge in violent conflict and intercommunal violence forced more than two million people to flee their homes in 2017. Today, the total number of internally displaced people in the DRC has reached 4.4 million, which is the highest number of any country on the African continent. North Kivu Province remains the most affected, accounting for over one million displaced persons, of which 75 percent are women and children. Nearly 55 per cent of the refugees are under 18, many crossing borders unaccompanied or separated. Almost eight million people across the country are facing severe food insecurity – a 30 percent increase from the same time last year. The situation is further complicated by political uncertainty and economic downturn. UNFPA is leading the gender-based violence sub-cluster and the sexual and reproductive health / Minimum Initial Service Package working group.

Country Population: 77.3 mil
Level of Crisis:
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Humanitarian needs

Total people in need
13.10 million
Women of reproductive age
3.28 million
Pregnant women
432,300
Young people
4.12 million
Last updated on - 01 September 2018
UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti

Humanitarian funding

Resources in $

Key results2017

  • People Reached
    Total people reached with all types of SRH services
    100,203
    People reached with Dignity Kits
    6,660
    Total people reached with Adolescent SRH
    9,529
    Total people reached with all types of GBV services
    85,442
    UNFPA-assisted safe deliveries
    20,393
    Affected population who directly benefited from all types of emergency RH kits
    38,117
    Women and girls accessing services provided through Service Delivery Points (SDPs) that are equipped with Post-Rape Kits
    2,105
  • Services delivered
    Number of mobile clinics
    9
    Number of safe spaces
    7
    Maternity health facilities/tents/homes operationalized with UNFPA support
    58
    Dignity Kits distributed
    6,660
  • Capacity building
    Youth facilitators and volunteers trained on sexual and reproductive health
    240
    Personnel trained on Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care
    25
    Personnel trained on Minimum Initial Package (MISP)
    66
    Personnel trained on clinical management of rape
    66
    Personnel trained on psycho-social support
    66
    Health personnel trained on gender-based violence case management
    86

Emergencies updates and resources

Disclaimer
  • Results data are reported and updated as they become available.
  • - Targets and UNFPA's populations of concern, including women of reproductive age and pregnant women, are estimated using the MISP calculator.
  • - Funding estimates are based on country planning processes, including inter-agency humanitarian response plans and regional refugee and resilience plans.
  • L1: Humanitarian crises in which the national and international resources available in the affected country are sufficient for the required response.
  • L2: Humanitarian crises requiring significant support from neighbouring countries, regional organizations and possibly humanitarian agency headquarters.
  • L3: Major, sudden-onset humanitarian crises requiring mobilization across the humanitarian system.
  • Crisis levels are determined by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, a forum of UN and non-UN humanitarian partners.