The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is grappling with one of the world’s worst internal displacement and humanitarian crises due to prolonged conflict and rising levels of violence.

Development Diaries reports that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the DRC has climbed to 6.9 million, which is the highest number recorded, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

It is understood that the most recent upsurge follows a resurgence of hostilities in October in the eastern region of North Kivu between government-aligned militias and Tutsi-led M23 rebels.

According to IOM data, as of October 2023, about 5.6 million IDPs (81 percent of the total IDPs) live in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika, with conflict being the primary reason for displacement.

Up to a million people have been displaced as a result of the ongoing conflict with the rebel group ‘Mouvement du 23 Mars’ (M23) in the eastern province of North Kivu alone.

Nearly 4.8 million IDPs, or more than two-thirds of them, reside with host families.

The displacement crisis in the DRC has led to dire consequences, with millions of people suffering from a lack of access to basic necessities such as clean water, food, and health care.

Additionally, the IDPs often face the risk of sexual violence, forced recruitment into armed groups, and other human rights abuses.

This protracted crisis has strained the capacity of humanitarian organisations and the Congolese government to provide adequate assistance and protection, leaving many vulnerable individuals without the support they desperately need.

In order to address the displacement crisis in the DRC, Development Diaries urges the Congolese government to adopt a multi-faceted approach, including a focus on conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and strengthening the country’s institutions to foster stability and protect the rights of its citizens.

Source: IOM

Photo source: Oxfam East Africa