Huge humanitarian needs in DRC due to outbreak of violence

People in the Democratic Republic of Congo already suffered from major shortages of water, food and shelter, after decades of militia violence. Due to the strong advance of the M23 militia in recent weeks, hundreds more have been killed, thousands of people have been injured and hundreds of thousands have fled. What exactly is going on? Five questions and answers about the situation in DRC.

6 February 2025

1. What is the conflict in DR Congo about?

Eastern Congo is extremely rich in important minerals such as coltan and gold. M23 is after control of those raw materials. There is a great need for them worldwide, for example for the production of mobile phones and microchips. At the beginning of 2024, the M23 militia began an advance in the eastern part of the country. In recent weeks, they took the cities of Goma and Nyabibwe with great violence and are now moving south.

2. Why is the situation in DR Congo complicated?

ZOA's area of operation is in eastern Congo, on the border with Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. The situation there is very complicated. There are political and ethnic tensions. Not only internally, but also between groups on both sides of the borders. Armed groups roam around, rob, murder and rape. Child soldiers are recruited by rebels. Sexual violence – against women – is seen as a weapon of war. Given the interests in raw materials and parties in the conflict, it could escalate further and possibly result in a regional conflict.

3. How many people have been affected by the violence in DR Congo?

The violence of the past few years has already forced more than 7 million people to flee within Congo. Due to the strong advance of M23 in recent weeks, hundreds of thousands more people have fled. Living conditions in Goma and the surrounding camps were already dire before the violence escalated. There were already shortages of water, food and shelter, poor access to healthcare, and widespread gender-based and sexual violence.

The fighting has left medical facilities overwhelmed with casualties. Basic services have been destroyed, damaged or are unable to operate. Electricity and drinking water have been cut off, forcing the population to drink unclean water from Lake Kivu. This situation exposes thousands of people to the immediate risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera. Many families are traumatized by the loss of their loved ones. Others have lost their property and are in need of basically everything.

4. What humanitarian assistance do people in DR Congo need?

The fighting has severely damaged infrastructure in Goma. Water pipes and electricity are broken, roads are blocked, and there is no access to GPS and internet. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported more than 774 deaths, 2,880 injuries and more than 500,000 displaced civilians in January 2025. As many as 25 million people in the country depend on humanitarian aid. The most urgent needs are in the areas of drinking water, food supply, health care and the protection of women and children.

5. What does ZOA do in DR Congo?

ZOA has been working in North and South Kivu since 2008 to support the population in an unstable context dominated by poverty, food insecurity, widespread violence, community conflicts and natural disasters. ZOA currently has a team of 39 local and 3 international staff in the region with offices in Goma, Bukavu and Uvira. ZOA is there for Congolese people fleeing violence, providing life-saving aid to population groups in Goma and the surrounding area with cash for food and other essential needs, plus safe and clean drinking water.

ZOA also supports those in Congo who return after fleeing violence and can no longer claim their land, because land rights are poorly or not recorded. ZOA helps farmers with the registration of land rights and improving agricultural yields. ZOA also focuses on sociotherapy, in which men and women learn to deal with traumas from the past in group discussions, so that they can have a positive outlook on life again. Furthermore, women receive support – after a history of sexual violence or prostitution – to participate in savings and loan groups through training in independent entrepreneurship.