No relief from food insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as a quarter of the population continue to face hunger

Despite high levels of hunger, the DRC boasts fertile lands and abundant water resources and possesses the inherent capacity to attain self-sufficiency in food production. However, various factors such as the intensifying conflict in east , the impact of climate change and epidemics, and a lack of investment in rural development  prevent the country from attaining  food sufficiency.

While overall food insecurity levels in the DRC remain stagnant, the situation in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu has deteriorated. Driven by conflict and continued displacement, 6.2 million people are expected to face crisis or emergency levels of hunger, up from 5.4 million in mid-2024. Due to intense flooding, Tanganyika is now the most food insecure province in DRC.

“The IPC figures speak for themselves. We need to take action and ensure that livelihood support is provided at the appropriate level. FAO is committed to strengthening the resilience of households facing food insecurity through targeted interventions that address the impacts of climate change in the agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors," said FAO representative Aristide Ongone Obame.

The conflict in eastern DRC has disrupted vital agriculture production and the growth of essential infrastructure. This is a crisis fueled by shifting armed group dynamics and resource struggles, exacerbated by deep-rooted geopolitical tensions. As a result, more than 6.5million people are now displaced from their homes in the three eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

“In 2025 we need to work more on resilience and strengthening the food systems in the DRC to help move families out of hunger,” said Peter Musoko, the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) Country Director and Representative in the DRC. ‘’In such a fragile context, the cost of inaction is truly unthinkable. Together, we need to work with the government and the humanitarian community to increase resources for this neglected crisis.’’

Despite needs outpacing available resources, WFP reached 1.95 million people in October 2024 alone. As humanitarian needs continue to grow, WFP faces a critical funding gap of US$ 350 million over the next six months to provide essential food and nutrition assistance to the most vulnerable people. 

In 2024 FAO needed US$ 233.9M for its assistance in the DRC. As of end of September FAO has assisted 3.0 million people out of the 3.6 million planned and requires more financial resources to meet the current gap.   

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Note for editors.

High levels of acute food insecurity (or acute hunger) refer to populations in IPC Phase 3 or higher. Populations classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) need urgent action to save lives, reduce food consumption gaps and protect livelihoods. In Phase 3, families may resort to less preferred or less nutritious food or may skip meals or sell productive assets to put food on the table; in Phase 4, they may resort to more extreme strategies such as selling the last animal that provided them with a means of livelihood or begging.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. It aims to transform agrifood systems, making them more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

Follow us on Twitter @FAOnews, @FAOAfrica and @FAORDCongo.

The United Nations World Food Programme(WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media @wfpdrc @wfp_southernafrica