DRC Faces Escalating Child hunger Crisis, Linked to Conflict adn Displacement
A new analysis reveals a deeply concerning food security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with an estimated 14 million children projected to face critical levels of hunger between January and June of next year. This includes approximately 2.1 million children at immediate risk of severe emergency levels of hunger, characterized by acute malnutrition and a heightened threat of death.
The crisis is particularly acute in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika, where food insecurity has dramatically worsened due to ongoing conflicts and attacks by armed groups against civilians. These violent events have fueled widespread displacement – over two million people have been forced from their homes in the DRC this year – alongside increases in civilian casualties and instances of sexual violence.
The consequences of food insecurity are devastating for children, leading to malnutrition, stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and increased susceptibility to disease. Lack of adequate nutrition also hinders children’s ability to concentrate and learn, even when educational opportunities are available.
“The situation has not improved sence a catastrophic escalation of hunger among children earlier this year,” states Greg Ramm, Save the Children‘s Country Director in the DRC.”Continued violence in eastern DRC has deprived families of access to essential services like food and healthcare, creating one of the world’s largest displacement crises. Even for families returning home, conditions remain dire, with high poverty rates trapping millions in a cycle of repeated hunger.”
Ramm emphasizes the urgent need for international intervention: “The international community must take immediate action to prevent further suffering, especially among children. We urgently need increased funding to support life-saving food security and nutrition programs, ensuring families have enough to eat and children are protected from malnutrition.”
The DRC is also identified as one of the most hazardous countries for children globally. According to a recent Save the Children report, “No to the war on children: Safety for whom?”, verified grave violations against children in conflict zones rose by 30% in 2024, with the DRC accounting for a significant portion of these incidents.
Specifically, the DRC recorded the highest number of children recruited and used by armed forces in 2024, with 2,365 verified cases – bringing the total since 2005 to nearly 20,000. The country also experiences a disproportionately high number of child abductions, representing 815 of the 2024 verified cases globally, alongside 358 verified cases of sexual violence against children.
Save the Children has been working in eastern DRC as 1994, collaborating with 13 local partners, international organizations, and government authorities to deliver vital support in health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, child protection, and education to children and families in need.
