According to a report by the non-governmental organization Mercy Corps, along February, fighting in the Fizi highlands, in South Kivu province, impacted the neighboring population, adding to the millions of people who have already fled their homes in search of safer areas.

The conflict in the DRC extends beyond the borders of the easternmost territories: North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, as the wave of displaced people finds refuge in other areas, complicating the humanitarian situation by straining access to food, shelter, and basic services.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned earlier this month that in North Kivu alone, nearly 95% of displaced households are experiencing food insecurity.

The root causes of the food crisis are armed conflict, economic crises, natural disasters, and soaring food prices, OCHA said, calling for urgent measures to prevent food insecurity from worsening.

According to the agency, more than 21 million people in the DRC were in need of humanitarian assistance before the latest escalation of the crisis, one of the highest figures in the world.

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