Critical funding shortages are severely hindering humanitarian efforts in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and beyond. As of March 24, 2025, thousands of people are left without life-saving assistance as the already dire situation inches closer to catastrophe. Recent reports indicate that over 100,000 Congolese have fled to neighboring countries in less than three months due to ongoing conflict and violence.
The province of North Kivu remains a hotspot for violence, particularly in the Masisi and Walikale areas. The security situation has also deteriorated around Bukavu and neighboring regions in South Kivu, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes. In North Kivu, all reception locations for internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been completely destroyed. Previously, these sites housed around 400,000 displaced individuals, who are now left without shelter or protection.
Since January, more than 40,000 internally displaced persons have arrived in Kalemie, located in the adjacent Tanganyika province. These individuals have risked their lives on a perilous 700-kilometer journey through conflict zones and across lakes. Among them are youth escaping forced recruitment into armed groups and women and children separated from their families amidst the chaos of fleeing.
The lack of funding is severely constraining the ability of humanitarian organizations to respond to this crisis. Efforts to rebuild shelters and distribute essential supplies like blankets, mosquito nets, menstrual products, and soap have stalled due to budget cuts. Currently, UNHCR’s emergency stocks in Kalemie have not been replenished, leaving only 147 blankets available for thousands of displaced persons.
The humanitarian situation extends beyond Congo's borders. Since January, Uganda has welcomed over 28,000 Congolese refugees, which marks a staggering 500 percent increase compared to the previous year. Authorities expect another 10,000 new arrivals by the end of March. Refugees fleeing from extreme violence and serious human rights abuses fill Ugandan camps, which are now seven times beyond their capacity, struggling with a deficiency of water, sanitation, and housing. Health care facilities are overwhelmed, leading to a sharp increase in child malnutrition as food programs have been halted.
In Burundi, the humanitarian condition is just as alarming. In the municipality of Rugombo, where the majority of the 68,000 incoming refugees since February are currently sheltered, sanitation facilities are woefully inadequate. Overcrowded conditions around stadiums that serve as temporary shelters and a lack of accessible health care have already resulted in at least eight suspected cases of cholera. Without additional funding to bolster health services, the risk of disease spreading further is high.
Long-term projections warn of a potential resurgence of the AIDS pandemic globally, as flagged by UNAIDS. On March 24, 2025, the agency reiterated concerns that the suspension of U.S. foreign aid could lead to disastrous consequences, particularly for vulnerable populations in low-income countries across Africa and in Eastern Europe and Latin America. UNAIDS Director Michel Sidibé highlighted that without U.S. aid resuming, there are projections of 6.3 million additional AIDS deaths in the next four years, which is ten times greater than in 2023.
The suspension of aid has generated confusion and disruption across global health networks, despite exceptions made by the previous Trump administration to certain programs. UNAIDS relies on the U.S. for half its funding, and the forecast for additional deaths puts 25 years of progress in combating AIDS on the line.
USAID, one of the largest U.S. government agencies for foreign assistance, allocated over 39 billion euros in aid to around 130 countries in 2023. The majority of aid went to Ukraine, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Syria, and the DRC. However, shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump instigated a 90-day pause on all foreign aid, which has since caused significant turmoil in humanitarian efforts. More controversial claims in early February revealed plans to keep Elon Musk's cutting reshaping of USAID, now referred to derogatorily by Musk as a "criminal organization" clinging to taxpayer money while supporting countries deemed unfriendly to the U.S.
In light of such challenges, UNHCR appreciates the support from donors who have contributed to scaling up assistance in the DRC and neighboring countries. Nevertheless, the rapidly expanding humanitarian needs far exceed available resources, leaving millions at risk of continued suffering in the face of political and financial instability.
