The World Food Programme warned that conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is driving food insecurity to crisis levels across the region, according to a WFP news release.
Over 660,000 people have fled North Kivu region’ biggest city of Goma since January 2025 as fighting intensifies between government forces, M23, and other armed groups. Nearly 140,000 Congolese crossed into neighboring countries in the first four months of 2025.
WFP states that fighting has disrupted food production in eastern DRC’s farming areas. People facing acute food insecurity in the eastern provinces jumped from 6.6 million to 7.9 million, with 2.3 million in the most severe category. Over 90% of households in North and South Kivu now face food shortages. The country hosts 28 million people with acute food insecurity.
According to the WFP press release, the organization provided food and cash assistance to 1.1 million people in eastern DRC between January and March. The aid included daily meals for 115,000 schoolchildren and nutrition support for 340,000 children and pregnant women. WFP also supports hundreds of thousands of refugees across neighboring countries. Funding gaps have forced ration cuts everywhere, with some people getting only half portions.
Security problems block aid access while the Goma airport stays closed. WFP needs $433 million for DRC operations through October, plus $73.6 million for refugee programs in neighboring countries.
