Facing Violence & Hunger in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Millions of people have fled their homes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, seeking refuge in overcrowded and under-resourced displacement camps as rebel group M23 seizes territories — most recently Goma, one of the nation’s largest cities. Control of the nation’s natural resources has historically been a significant driver of conflict in the region. 

The breakdown of social structures and lack of security have left many women and girls unprotected, making them targets for sexual violence and exploitation. The atmosphere is tense. Even in moments of relative peace, the expectation of eventual violence hangs in the air.

It is a volatile situation. For a country already rocked by natural disasters, conflict makes a dire situation much worse. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to the greatest number of food-insecure people in the world. More than 26.4 million people are severely food insecure, meaning they sometimes go a day or more without food. Over 2.8 million children are acutely malnourished, facing severe weight loss, weakened immune systems, and organ failure.

Convoy of Hope is working with local partners, serving families in the displacement camps around Goma and carefully navigating the very real security risks. Every day, children were dying of starvation in the camps. Convoy started a daily program to ensure kids received fortified porridge, made specifically to alleviate malnutrition and protect kids from starvation.

Convoy is also cooking and distributing hot meals to women and children throughout the camp. In order to cook for themselves, women would have to leave the safety of the camp to collect firewood, making them extremely vulnerable to sexual violence. Receiving hot meals from Convoy ensures they don’t have to leave the camp to cook for themselves.

“When you’re standing in the camp and you’re looking at the people waiting in line for food — they own the clothes on their backs. That’s all. They fled with the clothes on their back. They don’t have homes to go back to or farms to grow their own food,” said Convoy’s Bryan Burr. 

The displacement camps are seas of white tents draped over makeshift wooden shelters, where families sleep. Convoy’s mosquito nets help combat malaria, but in such close quarters with no adequate waste disposal system, other diseases run rampant.

This is one of the greatest ongoing human crises in the world.

To support those affected by conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, click here.