DR Congo: Hunger deepens for millions amid conflict, Ebola and climate shocks

More than 28 million people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are now facing acute food insecurity, a situation that experts say will worsen as conflict, a resurging Ebola outbreak, and climate‑related shocks converge. The latest alert from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) global food security monitor classifies the crisis as “Phase 4 – Emergency,” meaning that large numbers of people are unable to meet their basic nutritional needs without urgent assistance. With the country’s fragile health system stretched thin and agricultural production hit by erratic rains, the humanitarian community warns that the number of people going hungry could climb sharply in the coming months.

What Happened

In the past year, a series of violent clashes between government forces, rebel groups, and militia factions have displaced millions across the eastern provinces of North Kivu, Ituri, and South Kivu. These displacements have disrupted planting cycles, destroyed crops, and cut off market access for farmers who already struggle with poor infrastructure. At the same time, the DRC has witnessed a resurgence of Ebola in the same regions, forcing health workers to divert resources from routine nutrition programmes to disease containment and treatment.

Compounding the crisis, the country has endured a series of climate shocks. Unseasonably heavy rains in early 2024 caused widespread flooding, destroying fields, homes, and road networks. Later, a prolonged dry spell in the central highlands reduced maize yields, the staple that feeds the majority of the population. The combination of conflict‑driven displacement, a public‑health emergency, and climate‑induced crop failures has pushed an estimated 28 million Congolese—roughly one‑third of the nation’s total population—into a state of acute hunger.

Key Details

The IPC report highlights that 5.9 million people are currently in Phase 4 (Emergency) and another 11.2 million are in Phase 3 (Crisis), where households are coping but at risk of slipping into deeper food insecurity. Children under five are particularly vulnerable: an estimated 1.8 million are suffering from acute malnutrition, with 350 000 classified as severe cases that require therapeutic feeding. The health sector, already overstretched by Ebola, lacks the capacity to provide adequate nutrition services, leaving many children without life‑saving interventions.

Humanitarian agencies estimate that without a rapid scale‑up of assistance, the number of people facing emergency levels of food insecurity could rise by an additional 3 million by the end of 2025. Funding gaps remain acute; the United Nations appeals for $2.1 billion to cover emergency food aid, health services, and livelihood support, yet only about 55 % of the required resources have been pledged. Moreover, access constraints—stemming from ongoing insecurity and road blockages—prevent aid from reaching many of the hardest‑hit communities.

Background

The DRC has long been plagued by a complex web of armed conflict that dates back to the early 1990s. While the intensity of fighting has ebbed and flowed, the eastern provinces remain a hotspot for militia activity, illegal mineral extraction, and ethnic tensions. These dynamics have repeatedly disrupted agricultural production, which accounts for roughly 70 % of the country’s employment and is the main source of livelihood for the majority of its citizens.

In parallel, the DRC’s health infrastructure is among the weakest in the world. The 2018‑2020 Ebola epidemic claimed more than 2 300 lives and highlighted the fragility of disease surveillance and response mechanisms. Although the current outbreak is smaller, it continues to strain the limited pool of health workers, many of whom are also tasked with delivering nutrition programmes. Climate change further compounds these challenges, as the country experiences more frequent extreme weather events that undermine food production and increase the risk of disease outbreaks.

Why It Matters

Food insecurity on this scale threatens to reverse years of progress in health, education, and economic development. Malnutrition weakens immune systems, making children more susceptible to infections such as malaria, diarrhoea, and even Ebola. School attendance drops when families prioritize survival over education, perpetuating a cycle of poverty that can span generations. Moreover, widespread hunger can fuel further instability, as desperate populations become more vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups.

Internationally, the DRC’s crisis serves as a stark reminder of the interconnected nature of modern humanitarian emergencies. Conflict, disease, and climate change are not isolated phenomena; they amplify each other, creating a “perfect storm” that overwhelms national capacities and tests the limits of global aid coordination. The situation underscores the need for integrated response strategies that address security, health, and climate resilience simultaneously.

What Happens Next

Humanitarian actors are calling for an immediate surge in funding to expand emergency food distributions, therapeutic feeding centres, and cash‑for‑goods programmes that enable families to purchase locally produced food. Simultaneously, there is a push for longer‑term interventions, such as climate‑smart agriculture, seed distribution, and the rehabilitation of damaged irrigation systems, to rebuild resilience against future shocks. Strengthening disease surveillance and integrating nutrition services into Ebola response teams are also seen as critical steps to prevent a further deterioration of health outcomes.

On the political front, the Congolese government has pledged to improve security in the eastern regions and to work with regional partners to negotiate ceasefires with key rebel factions. Successful implementation of these agreements could open up previously inaccessible areas, allowing aid convoys to reach millions more people. However, experts warn that without sustained international commitment and a coordinated approach that tackles the root causes of conflict and climate vulnerability, the hunger crisis is likely to deepen, leaving the DRC’s most vulnerable populations in a prolonged state of emergency.

In the face of mounting challenges, the convergence of conflict, disease, and climate change in the DRC illustrates how quickly a nation can slip from chronic poverty into a full‑scale humanitarian disaster. Prompt, well‑funded, and coordinated action is essential to halt the spread of hunger, protect the health of millions, and lay the groundwork for a more stable and food‑secure future.