Kinshasa, DRC — April 21, 2026 Critical Humanitarian Crisis Persists in North Kivu, DRC.
The humanitarian situation in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), remains dire, with over 1. 2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and severe food insecurity affecting the region, according to the latest report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) RDC.
Since the beginning of 2026, the ongoing conflict between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the M23 rebel group has displaced over 96,000 individuals, with the total number of IDPs in North Kivu reaching 1.
2 million. This has exacerbated the already critical food insecurity situation, with approximately 26.
6 million people across the DRC experiencing acute food insecurity, making North Kivu one of the most severely affected areas.
Education has also been hit hard, with the number of attacks on schools tripling over the past year, impacting over 285,500 children. This violence has disrupted the education of thousands of children, further deepening the crisis in the region.
The health system is struggling to cope with the added burden, with outbreaks of measles, cholera, malaria, and mpox reported.
The situation is compounded by the fact that the health facilities are often themselves targets of attacks, making access to healthcare a challenge for those in need. OCHA RDC reports that the humanitarian situation is critical due to ongoing conflict, but does not specify any contrasting viewpoints within the report.
ReliefWeb and OCHA sources highlight the severe impact of conflict on the civilian population, including mass displacement, food insecurity, and attacks on education institutions.
The international community has taken notice of the crisis, with various organizations responding to the needs of the affected populations. Save the Children and COOPI, among others, are involved in emergency stabilization efforts, including providing educational support and emergency funding appeals.
The situation in North Kivu underscores the need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict and the importance of providing humanitarian assistance to those in need.
As the crisis persists, the international community must continue to support efforts aimed at addressing the critical needs of the affected populations and working towards a sustainable solution to the conflict.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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By This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
