Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding in the DRC

Over 120 groups are active in the country targeting civilians, using rape as a weapon of war, kidnapping, torturing, and extrajudicially executing. In Eastern DRC, fighting amongst  armed groups including M23, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), and various Mai-Mai militias is forcibly displacing even more civilians, increasing risks to women’s safety and the human rights of civilians in the region. In Western DRC, an intercommunal conflict between Teke and Yaka communities over land disputes and access to power and institutions has spread from the Mai-Ndombe province to rural areas of Kinshasa, the commune of Maluku, and the provinces of Kwilu, Kwango, and Kongo-Central. In Kisangani, Tshopo province, last October, conflict over lands issues resulted in household fires, and loss of life.

As the conflicts persist, the DRC faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. According to the International Organization for Migration, nearly 7 million people have been displaced. Six million people have been killed since the start of the conflict, with many hundreds of killings in the last few months alone. The DRC has some of the highest rates of sexual violence in the world, and gender-based violence has significantly increased over the past few months.

Essential services, including food, water, healthcare, sanitation, and education, are critically underfunded, exacerbating the suffering of those already grappling with the consequences of displacement and violence. Civilians, particularly women and children have been hardest hit.

The international community has a responsibility to act.

The growing crisis demands immediate, robust and ongoing support from the international community. In particular: 

• We urgently appeal to humanitarian relief organizations and like-minded donors for increased aid and humanitarian support, with a special focus on the vulnerable situations faced by women and children. 

• We call on women's organizations worldwide to stand in solidarity with Congolese women. Your voices are crucial in raising awareness, advocating for support, and fostering a sense of global unity to address the specific challenges faced by women in the DRC during this crisis. 

• The UN and AU are pivotal actors in promoting peace and stability globally. Both organizations should intensify their efforts in supporting and facilitating peace initiatives in the DRC. A sustainable peace process which meaningfully includes women, is crucial for addressing the root causes of the conflict and providing a path toward lasting peace and stability. 

• International organizations including the UN, the Red Cross and others should take immediate and decisive measures to protect civilians in the DRC. 

• The government of Rwanda must immediately cease funding the M23 militant group.  

• The EU and UN must insist on Rwanda's withdrawal from the ongoing conflict in the DRC.  

• Arms should not be sold by any party to militant groups in the DRC.  

NWI is deeply committed to fostering peace, justice, and gender equality. We firmly believe that a peaceful, stable, and prosperous DRC is not only crucial for the well-being of its citizens but also in the best interest of the entire region. 

The image used in this statement was taken by Kaley Grace, a photographer from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

MEDIA CONTACT:  

Daina Ruduša  

Head of Communications and Partnerships  

Nobel Women’s Initiative  

[email protected]  

+371 25585212 (EEST timezone)