Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported that a humanitarian disaster is underway in North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Development Diaries reports that about one million people have fled fighting linked to the resurgence of the M23 armed group in the province over the past year.

It is understood that the humanitarian response so far has been vastly inadequate as people are left highly vulnerable to cholera, measles, malnutrition and sexual violence.

‘It is a shocking situation’, MSF’s country representative in DRC, Raphaël Piret, said in a statement.

‘Our teams are working around the clock to fight cholera and deal with the growing cases of measles, but they are completely overwhelmed.

‘Faced with the humanitarian and health disaster unfolding before our eyes, stepping up assistance to the displaced people – both in Goma and elsewhere – is a matter of urgency’.

MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, called on the international community and the Congolese authorities to scale up efforts to meet the needs of people affected by armed clashes.

Available data shows that cholera is endemic in parts of DRC. In 2022, according to figures from the National Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System, a total of 18,403 suspected cases of cholera, including 302 deaths were recorded in the DRC.

Photo source: MSF