DRC: "Scale of suffering demands urgent attention" - OCHA

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Published Feb 17, 2025

Briefing by Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, on the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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The crisis in eastern DRC is at a dangerous point: The situation is deteriorating rapidly, and if hostilities spill into Goma – a densely populated urban center – the impact on civilians could be devastating.

More than 21 million people already need aid across the country – one of the highest numbers worldwide. Approximately 1 million people had already sought refuge in neighboring countries. The escalation in the east threatens to make a critical humanitarian situation even worse.
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Council members, to address this escalating humanitarian crisis before the situation worsens further, I have three asks to the Council:

First, I urge this Council and all Member States to leverage their influence to ensure that international humanitarian law is respected by all parties.
Civilians must be protected. IDP sites and medical facilities must be protected. Rapid, unimpeded, and safe humanitarian access to those in need must be facilitated.

Second, since we are at the start of the year and many funding sources remain unavailable or delayed for various reasons, adequate funding is essential to enable and sustain urgent humanitarian action. In light of the scale and severity of the current situation, we are allocating US $ 17 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund for immediate life-saving interventions. However, let’s be clear: Additional resources are urgently
needed.

Third, I urge the Council and all Member States to use their influence to end the hostilities.

The scale of suffering in the DRC demands urgent attention. The plight of the country’s women, men and children cannot continue to go unnoticed.