Suffering in DR Congo could get worse

Millions of people facing severe hunger and acute malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are at risk of not receiving life-saving assistance.

Relief efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo are severely underfunded, with tens of thousands of people already facing reduced food rations. Oxfam's relief efforts in Kasai, the worst affected area, aim to help 180,000 people but may end when funding runs out in March. Several organizations have called for increased contributions as the cost of aid to the DRC will double in 2018, according to the UN. So far, the UN has received only a fraction of what is needed.

"The conflict has left millions of people in Kasai now facing severe hunger and the world cannot continue to ignore human suffering of this scale. Terrorized and traumatized, over one and a half million people have been forced to flee their homes and country in search of safety. We must help those affected with the food and support they so desperately need until they can return home and grow their crops again," said Jose García Barahona, Oxfam's Country Director in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Governments and international donors urgently need to fill the funding gap. Without adequate aid, we will not be able to provide support to the millions of people in Kasai and the rest of Congo who need it today. It is vital that we act now to bring communities together and help them rebuild their lives," said Jose García Barahona.

The conflict that erupted in the previously peaceful Kasai last year has led to an eightfold increase in hunger. Over three million people now go hungry.

Three agricultural seasons have now been missed, leading to severe food shortages. Many families are forced to live on just one meal a day, on a diet consisting mainly of maize and cassava, without access to more nutritious food. While 400,000 children are reported to be severely malnourished in the Kasai region, further delays in aid will lead to higher levels of mortality and stunted growth.

Millions still lack access to clean water. Oxfam has brought in equipment to drill wells and build water systems, but with funding running out in February, it's a race against time. In addition, the current rainy season increases the risk of cholera and other water-borne diseases.

The conflict in Kasai started in August 2016 following a dispute between the government and the local community over who would be the next tribal leader. The crisis has now spread to five provinces in Kasai and has led to fighting between different armed groups, with much of the extreme violence targeting civilians. Oxfam has received reports of rape, mutilation, mass killings and beheadings, including brutal attacks and killings of very young children. By early 2018, the UN estimates that 13 million people in the DRC will be in need of assistance and protection from the conflict.

Almost 3.2 million people are in urgent need of food assistance in Kasai, according to the World Food Program.

Oxfam's program in Kasai has helped 50,000 people so far but aims to reach a total of 180,000 displaced people with food, water and sanitation, essential household items (e.g. water containers, soap, cloth, clothes, hygiene kits and basic cooking utensils) and help keep people safe.