UN states DRC is facing critical humanitarian conditions

(MENAFN) A top United Nations official has sounded the alarm over the worsening humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), describing it as among the most severe emergencies in the world as ongoing conflict and instability devastate communities in the country’s east.

"The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently facing one of the most acute humanitarian emergencies in the world. Food insecurity is rising as families lose access to their fields and see their harvests confiscated," said Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, UN assistant secretary-general for Africa, during a briefing to the Security Council.

She highlighted the scale of internal displacement caused by fighting: "Today, 5.9 million Congolese are internally displaced, including one million in North Kivu and 1.5 million in South Kivu. Families are repeatedly uprooted, caught in a cycle of fear and constant displacement."

While recent mediation efforts — including agreements signed in June and July with support from the U.S. and Qatar — have offered some hope, Pobee warned that "the evolution of the security situation on the ground has not matched the progress achieved on the diplomatic front."

She described the growing toll on civilians and aid workers: "The number of civilian casualties has risen dramatically. Humanitarian workers are risking their lives to provide limited assistance to a population whose needs continue to grow. Conflict-related sexual violence persists amid general indifference. The forced recruitment of children continues.”

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