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U.S. announces $48 million for urgent humanitarian assistance in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The United States, via the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced a contribution of nearly $48 million for urgent humanitarian support in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This critical funding was unveiled during Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland’s visit to Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital city.
The DRC’s ongoing crisis is marked by continued fighting between the national military and other factions, including the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) and additional armed groups. This has resulted in significant displacement of the population and restricted access to essential services. Since the beginning of the year, roughly 1.3 million people have been displaced in the Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces alone. Many are living in overcrowded and unsafe camps without appropriate access to food, water, or healthcare. It is projected that more than 26 million people will require humanitarian aid in the DRC in 2023.
An alarming rise in gender-based violence (GBV) cases has also been recorded, a situation described as “catastrophic” by the non-governmental organisation Médecins Sans Frontières. The new assistance from the U.S. aims to provide protection, including GBV prevention and response, along with psychosocial support services for the most vulnerable and at-risk populations in the DRC.
Of the $48 million announced, $3 million will be directed specifically to Congolese non-governmental organisations. The funding will also bolster efforts to provide emergency food assistance, healthcare, nutrition support, shelter materials, and safe drinking water, among other urgent necessities.
This new contribution builds upon the consistent support the United States has offered to the people of the DRC, with total U.S. humanitarian assistance amounting to nearly $486 million in the current fiscal year.
As the largest provider of humanitarian assistance to the DRC, the United States reiterates its commitment to standing with the conflict-affected populations. The efforts by the U.S. government and its partners aim to save lives and alleviate the suffering in one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.
