DRC - Emergency Assistance - Doctors of the World 2021

January 2021 - The crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is characterized by violent conflict epidemics and natural disasters compounding and exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. In 2021 19.6 million people (20% increase since 2020) are in need of humanitarian assistance. Some 21.8 million people currently face severe acute food insecurity including 3.4 million acutely malnourished children under the age of five the highest absolute number ever recorded worldwide. The DRC is also home to the largest internally displaced persons population in Africa with 5.2 million displaced people creating significant needs in protection livelihoods and food security. These needs are exacerbated by communicable disease outbreaks intensified conflicts and severe food insecurity. Project activities include: (1) providing at least 3 810 infants and pregnant and lactating women with moderate and severe acute malnutrition treatments; (2) providing at least 2 010 households with malnutrition screening tools; (3) providing at least 40 200 SRH consultations; and (4) providing at least 12 186 women and girls access to SRH services. With GAC’s support Doctors of the World is providing assistance to address the urgent needs of up to 50 250 conflict-affected people. This project focuses on preventing and treating malnutrition and providing access to primary healthcare including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) for conflict-affected people.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved knowledge and access to prevent detect and treat severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) among girls and boys under the age of five and pregnant and lactating women; (2) improved management of SAM and MAM cases among girls and boys under the age of five; (3) improved equitable access to primary healthcare for women girls men and boys living in areas experiencing humanitarian crises; and (4) improved equitable access to free and quality sexual and reproductive health services including care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence for displaced women girls men and boys and vulnerable hosts affected by the crisis. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.