Conflict and insecurity have worsened food insecurity in the region, with the World Food Programme (WFP) warning that the situation could spiral out of control without immediate intervention.

As the conflict between M23 rebels and Congolese armed forces continues to displace thousands, many communities in the region have been left without access to adequate nutrition. In 2024 alone, over three million people were forced to flee their homes, many of them now living in precarious conditions where access to food is limited and prices are out of reach for most families.

Shelley Thakral, Spokesperson for the WFP in the DRC, painted a stark picture of the unfolding crisis. "We are witnessing a dramatic decline in food availability, with many areas being cut off from crucial food supplies due to the ongoing violence," she said. "This has resulted in an unprecedented level of hunger in an already fragile region."

Markets have been severely disrupted, with prices for basic staples skyrocketing as transportation routes are blocked or damaged. Families that were once able to rely on local markets for sustenance now find themselves without the means to purchase even the most basic food items. Thakral noted that in areas like Goma and Bukavu, food prices have become unaffordable for most families, with many relying on emergency aid to survive.

Before the latest wave of violence, the WFP was already providing food assistance to over 800 000 people in the region. However, with the escalation of the conflict, food aid distribution has become increasingly difficult, as roads and airports are shut down, and warehouses are looted. Thakral explained that the WFP is now focused on exploring alternative methods of food delivery, including using local procurement where possible, and looking into the possibility of using water routes to bring in supplies.

The food situation is dire for vulnerable populations, particularly children and women. Malnutrition rates are rising, with young children facing the most severe consequences, including stunted growth and cognitive delays. "We are seeing children who are already suffering from the effects of malnutrition, and their situation is becoming more critical by the day," Thakral said.

As the rainy season approaches, the risks of further food shortages and disease outbreaks increase. With many families already weakened by lack of nutrition, the prospect of flooding and poor sanitation heightens the danger of health crises.

The WFP has called on the international community to urgently support food relief efforts, highlighting that the situation in eastern DRC requires a coordinated global response. "Food is a basic human right," she stated. "We must act quickly to ensure that the people of eastern DRC receive the food they desperately need to survive."

With food supplies dwindling and the conflict showing no signs of abating, the people of eastern DRC remain at the mercy of a food crisis that threatens to deepen the already dire humanitarian situation.

--ChannelAfrica--