Democratic Republic of the Congo

In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, ongoing hostilities in North and South Kivu have forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes and are causing humanitarian conditions to worsen. 

In North Kivu province, the security situation remains volatile in Goma and Petit Nord; bank closures have led to cash shortages, and humanitarian assistance is hampered by bureaucratic restrictions, which has caused a shortage of medicine and health supplies.

Even before the current escalation, three women died every hour in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from pregnancy and birth-related complications. Now, access to life-saving reproductive health and gender-based violence protection services for women and girls has been severely restricted. 

High rates of gender-based violence, including exploitation and coercion, have been reported in the eastern provinces, due to minimal protection and security in crowded displacement camps, widespread hunger and a lack of livelihood opportunities.  

UNFPA is working with the government and partners to provide life-saving assistance to displaced women and girls. Essential medicines and supplies are being distributed to health facilities, and midwives and mobile teams have been deployed to displacement camps to ensure access to maternal health services, including emergency obstetric and newborn care. Safe spaces for women and girls are being supported, as well as a hotline to help survivors of gender-based violence receive medical, psychosocial, and legal support. 
 

Updated 30 September 2025