The humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC has worsened significantly in recent weeks as escalating violence and the takeover of Goma by the March 23 Movement (M23) armed group have forced hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to flee the area since January 23, 2025. The sudden mass displacement has overwhelmed nearby IDP sites, intensifying an already critical situation caused by ongoing conflict, climatic shocks, and disease outbreaks. The country now hosts 6.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), including 4.6 million in South and North Kivu alone. Additionally, there are 1.8 million IDPs in the northeastern province of Ituri, where conflict is ongoing, including attacks against civilians by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). As of February 2025, over 21 million people require humanitarian assistance. The humanitarian response has struggled to keep pace with growing needs while deteriorating security conditions heighten the risk of the conflict spreading beyond the Kivus. There are growing concerns that escalating tensions could trigger a broader regional crisis. Moreover, the Security Council has condemned persistent violations of International Humanitarian Law and emphasized the need for diplomatic interventions. However, with essential services at risk of disruption, the crisis could deepen further, exacerbating food shortages, facilitating disease transmission, and limiting access to basic needs (ACSC 29/01/2025, AlJazeera 11/02/2025, UN News 11/02/2025, IOM 31/01/2025, Crises Group 01/2025, UN News 26/01/2025)
