Violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: A humanitarian catastrophe

Following the escalation of the armed conflict between the M23/AFC armed group and the Congolese army in North Kivu (Goma), and its expansion into South Kivu—Doctors of the World warns of the immense needs of the affected populations. The organization also raises alarm over the difficulties in delivering humanitarian aid. 

Amid new offensives by the M23/AFC armed group in the cities of Minova and Goma since January 19, 2025, hundreds of thousands of people have once again been forced to flee their homes, while reception and assistance capacities for displaced persons are already overwhelmed. 

A Catastrophic Situation 

According to the United Nations, the escalation of violence has already caused the displacement of more than 500,000 people since the beginning of the year in North and South Kivu, which are already home to 4.6 million displaced people.

“In North and South Kivu, the humanitarian situation is extremely alarming. In the North, the 500,000 displaced people who were living in camps around Goma were forced to flee once again to other camps when the city was taken by the M23, either towards the city centre or across the border with Rwanda. In the South, thousands of people who were living in displacement sites and with host families have moved into the interior of South Kivu. In the health areas of Mianda, Kusisa, Matitura and Tushunguti, our teams registered 14,538 people between 4 and 15 January. This figure has continued to rise since then,” warns Helena Ranchal, Director of International Operations at Doctors of the World.

She added: “People are deprived of access to food, water, electricity (Goma) and health care. And due to insecurity along the roads and the risk of attacks, humanitarian organizations, including Doctors of the World, do not have access to all areas. We are therefore currently unable to deliver medical supplies (hospital equipment, medical devices, etc.) and essential medicines to health centers and hospitals. The situation is terribly alarming: for example, childbirth cannot be managed optimally, nor can cases of acute malnutrition be supported. And once again, it is civilians who are paying the price.”

The International Community Must Respond

To address this situation, Doctors of the World is launching an emergency response through:

• The establishment of mobile clinics in Goma and the surrounding area to provide primary health care, sexual health care and initial psychological care.
• Secondly, the strengthening of existing health structures to ensure continuity and sustainability in the provision of care for the entire population.

We call on parties to the conflict to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to allow humanitarian organizations like Doctors of the World to provide access to health care and protection for affected populations. Humanitarian and health personnel and infrastructure must be protected by international humanitarian law, and under no circumstances may parties to the conflict attack them. The safety of our teams and populations is crucial to meeting the current needs of communities.

To achieve this, a strong commitment from the international community to humanitarian organizations is essential in order to deliver vital aid to people who need it.

Our Intervention

Present in the DRC since 1994, Médecins du Monde operates in particular in Kinshasa and Tanganyika.

• In Kinshasa for over 10 years, DotW has set up a program for young people and adolescents in the capital that increases their access to sexual and reproductive health services. Our association also runs a health and environment program to raise awareness among market gardeners about the risks associated with pesticide use, improve access to care, ensure the protection of these workers and encourage the switch to organic pesticides.
• In the province of Tanganyika bordering South Kivu, DotW intervenes in the health zones of Kalemie, Niembaet and Nyunzu to cover the basic health needs of the host populations and internally displaced persons affected by intercommunity conflicts. DotW’s intervention aims to guarantee free access to primary health care, nutritional care and sexual and reproductive health care through the provision of equipment and the supply of medicines and medical materials. The project provides free care in the 11 health centers.

Doctors of the World also intervenes through an emergency program in 6 health areas (Hauts Plateaux of the Kalehé territory in South Kivu and in Tushunguti). Our teams intervene in a context of conflict where humanitarian access is reduced. Among the various actions carried out, Doctors of the World:

• Provides primary and secondary health care
• Provides nutritional support for children under 5 years old
• Provides support for maternity services at health centers and hospitals
• Improves sanitation infrastructure and access to water in health centers
• Provides support to victims of gender-based violence (including survivors of sexual violence)

The organization carries out these same activities in the Mwenga and Fizi Highlands. Since December 2024, following the fighting in these territories, 75,000 people have had to leave their homes and have taken refuge in the forest or have been welcomed by host families who are themselves living in precarious situations.