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.?

Since mid-October, DRC is severely affected by flooding. As of 12 December, over 600,000 people are estimated to have been affected, around 40% of them are in Nord Ubangi (146,000 people affected) and Sud Ubangi (108,000 people).?

An Ebola virus outbreak began in Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces on 1 August 2018. Conflict in Nord-Kivu makes the response 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

On 24 December, Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced the stop of its operations in Biakato, Ituri province, due to the presence of armed forces at health facilities. MSF said that its Ebola centre and health services in Biakato will be run by the Ministry of Health.?