Congo-Kinshasa: Millions Facing Destitution As Violence Forces People to Flee Multiple Times

**Oslo, Norway** — Jan Egeland is the Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The NRC warns that hundreds of thousands in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) face desperate conditions. This crisis has escalated due to increased violent conflict in 2025. Displaced families are fleeing temporary shelters as fighting intensifies. Immediate international attention is needed for those in crisis.

Egeland expressed shock at the conditions around Goma. He noted that lives hang by a thread for many people there. In North and South Kivu, families have been forced to flee inadequate camps repeatedly. Most now lack shelter, sanitation, and drinking water. Diseases like cholera are spreading rapidly as a result.

Fighting continues in eastern DRC, with M23 rebels making significant gains. NRC staff remained in Goma during the conflict's peak to support the community. Many displaced individuals have lost everything after years of violence. It is unacceptable that few humanitarian organizations face such vast needs.

Assistance must match the scale of human suffering in DRC. Long-term solutions are necessary for children to return to school and banks to reopen. Violence against civilians must end immediately. Since early 2025, about 1.2 million people have been displaced across North and South Kivu provinces. Many have returned home but find their areas scarred by conflict.

Civilians face threats, gender-based violence, and extreme deprivation daily. Unexploded munitions hinder communities from cultivating their land fully. Thousands remain without means to rebuild or grow food amid ongoing conflict.

The situation for civilians has worsened over the years, reflecting poorly on the international community's response. NRC teams provide emergency aid but lack sufficient funding to meet needs effectively. The United States has historically been a major donor but has paused many projects recently due to changes at USAID.

For eight consecutive years, DRC has ranked among the world's most neglected displacement crises. Millions have faced repeated displacements from homes and camps multiple times. Families make impossible choices just to survive, including dangerous activities for basic necessities.

Global neglect towards civilians in eastern DRC should shame world leaders into action now. With deep insecurity present and families returning home, proper support is crucial moving forward.

**Notes:**
- Over 1 million people have been displaced since early 2025.
- More than 660,000 were displaced from temporary sites near Goma.
- Nearly seven million people are internally displaced across DRC.
- In Shasha villages near Goma, over 90% lack proper sanitation facilities.
- The Humanitarian Response Plan often receives less than half its funding needs.
- In 2024, two-thirds of funding came from U.S sources for humanitarian efforts.
- Cholera cases are rising as families drink untreated water sources.
- Almost two million children lack access to education due to school closures in Kivu provinces.