Democratic Republic of the Congo

Overview

A complex emergency has persisted in DRC for more than 20 years. Over 99% of displacement, which is frequent and repeated, is due to armed clashes and intercommunal violence between foreign, self-defence, and other armed groups. 4.49 million IDPs are registered and 800,000 refugees are hosted in neighbouring countries. DRC also hosts approximately 533,000 refugees.?

An Ebola virus outbreak began in Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces on 1 August 2018, transmission rates have been increasing since late March. Conflict in Nord-Kivu make the response to extremely challenging, and activities are regularly suspended.?

By mid-December 2018, almost 670,000 Congolese nationals returned from Angola to Kasai and areas close to the border after the Angolan government forced all those without documentation to leave. Most returnees are staying with host communities while some are sleeping out in the open or in churches. They are in need of healthcare, food, drinkable water, WASH, and also face protection concerns as the security situation in Kasai is volatile.?

The Commission électorale nationale indépendante announced the provisional results, with Félix Tshisekedi declared the new president, after elections took place on 30 December in a tense climate with reports of widespread irregularities, voter suppression, and violence. ?

INFORM measures DRC's risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster to be very high, at 7.6/10. Lack of coping capacity is of particular concern, at 8/10 as well as vulnerability at 7.6/10. ?

Latest Developments

05/12/2019 Since mid-October heavy rains have caused flooding across numerous provinces in northern DRC, including Haut-Uélé, Sud-Ubangi, Nord-Ubangi, Tshopo, and Mongala. As of 12 November, over 10,00 people in Dungu and Niangara territories in Haut-Uélé province are believed to have been affected by flooding and are now in need of humanitarian assistance. Another 18,000 people are estimated to have been displaced in Isangi Territory, Tshopo province. According to OCHA, no humanitarian response to the flood crisis in Haut-Uélé and Tshopo has been launched so far. In addition, over 400,000 people are estimated to have been affected in North and South Ubangi, in particular 40,000 people are estimated to have been displaced. Initial reports indicate that in the Libenge and Zongo territories of Sud-Ubangi, approximately 14,200 homes have been destroyed and schools, bridges, and crops have been significantly damaged by the floods. Infrastructure and homes have been damaged or destroyed by the floods across three territories in Nord-Ubangi, including Mobayi-Mbongo, Bosobolo, and Businga. In the Bumba Territories of Mongala, flooding has destroyed houses, crops, and livestock.?

28/11/2019 Residents in Beni city, North Kivu province, began over the weekend to protest against a recent surge of deadly attacks. After protests turned violent, several international organisations relocated staff from Beni until calm is restored. The attacks against civilians in Beni were allegedly carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in retaliation of a military operation in DRC's launched by the DRC armed forces on 30 October. Protestors denounced the violence and criticised the government and the UN stabilization mission MONUSCO, which has two camps in Beni city, for allegedly failing to protect civilians. On 25 November, protestors set the Beni town hall on fire and attacked one of the MONUSCO camps. Protests continued on Monday and as of 28 November at least seven deaths were confirmed. Beni is a zone with Ebola transmission and an important base for the international Ebola response in the province. The escalating violence against civilians has also led to displacement across Beni territory and within Beni city but verified numbers are not yet available.?