The new funding will support the urgent needs of displaced populations and those affected by recent conflicts and epidemics.
Assistance includes:
- Shelter and camp management.
- Clean water systems and latrines.
- Basic food rations or cash transfers.
- Education in Emergencies for the most vulnerable conflict-affected children.
The EU is a major donor for the humanitarian response in the DRC. This new funding brings the total EU humanitarian assistance to DRC to over €272 million since the beginning of 2023 and comes in addition to the EU Humanitarian Aid Flights which deliver humanitarian personnel and cargo throughout eastern DRC.
The protection of civilians remains a priority and an entry point for EU-funded humanitarian actions. Specific importance is placed on addressing issues related to gender-based violence, including prevention and a holistic response integrating health, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, and socio-economic response, as part of the response to the humanitarian needs in the DRC.
Background
Between conflict, poverty, malnutrition and frequent disease outbreaks, humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are among the highest in the world.
As a leading donor, the EU and its Member States have provided sustained humanitarian funding since the start of the crisis.
Before this latest episode in the crisis, already 800,000 internally displaced people were around Goma in very heavily populated sites for displaced persons. Within a couple of days, some of the camps that sheltered over 300,000 people last week, are now already completely empty because all their inhabitants have fled the frontlines.
Humanitarian access to the most vulnerable people has been limited and remains a challenge where fighting is taking place.
Humanitarian partners estimate that so far, more than 480,000 people have been newly displaced in North Kivu since October 2024, in addition to the 178,000 newly displaced ones in South Kivu.
This adds to the 6.4 million people who were already displaced throughout the country before (of which 2.9 million new displacements in 2024 alone).
More information
Quote(s)
At these particularly challenging times, the EU remains committed to supporting the most vulnerable in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite the fact that humanitarian access remains a challenge for our partners due to the severity of the fighting, we will ensure that humanitarian funding will be disbursed without delay and aid will continue to be provided to those who need it the most. As we are witnessing heavy ongoing fighting, it is paramount to ensure the respect of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, particularly in areas close to the frontlines and including in the camps for internally displaced people, as well as health workers, medical facilities, and humanitarian workers and their premises. Only dialogue and negotiations can resolve this conflict.
Source – EU Commission
Statement of the International Contact Group (ICG) on the situation in eastern DRC
The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG), chaired by Germany, gave a statement on the situation in eastern DRC.
The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes, including representatives from Denmark, Belgium, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, strongly condemns M23 and Rwandan Defense Forces’ (RDF) capture of the town of Sake on 23 January and the current push to capture the city of Goma on 27 January. We call for urgent de-escalation, respect for the cease-fire, and operationalization of the verification mission. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must be respected.
We urge M23 and RDF to cease its offensive in all directions, allow humanitarian access to the city of Goma and withdraw. The M23 capture of Goma will have grave humanitarian and security consequences on the ground. Hundreds of thousands of people are currently fleeing their homes, adding to the millions already internally displaced in eastern DRC due to conflict. The renewed offensive of the M23 and the RDF undermines efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict, in particular the Luanda Peace Process led by Angolan President João Lourenço. We call on all regional leaders to push for a renewed diplomatic effort at this critical time. We urge the leaders of the DRC and Rwanda to return to the negotiating table, respect the August ceasefire and implement their commitments under the Luanda Process CONOPS.
We reaffirm our unwavering support for MONUSCO and are deeply alarmed by the findings and support the recommendations of the recent report of the UN Group of Experts established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1533. Any threat or attack against Peacekeepers or humanitarian personnel is unacceptable. Jamming and spoofing operations which are endangering the security of civilians, United Nations and humanitarian flights must stop. We deplore the deaths of the military personnel of the MONUSCO and the SAMIDRC and we express our deepest condolences to their families, the United Nations and their countries of origin.
The members of the ICG will continue to coordinate their efforts to constantly reassess the situation while urging all parties to live up to their commitments and responsibilities.
Source – Foreign Ministry of Sweden