Democratic Republic of the Congo Crisis - Emergency Assistance - Doctors of the World 2022-2023

February 2022 - The crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is characterized by inter-ethnic conflict and widespread human rights abuses including sexual violence. In 2022 27 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the DRC a 7.4% increase from 2021. The DRC is home to the largest global food crisis with an unprecedented 27 million people severely food insecure. It is also home to the largest internally-displaced persons population in Africa with 5.5 million displaced people. Additional population movements are also expected in 2022 creating significant needs in protection livelihoods and food security. These needs are worsened by the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic other health epidemics increased violence across eastern provinces and political uncertainty. With GAC’s support Doctors of the World provides assistance to address the urgent needs of up to 55 214 conflict-affected people in Nyunzu Tanganyika. This project focuses on preventing and treating malnutrition providing access to primary health care including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and providing gender-based violence (GBV) protection services for conflict-affected people. Project activities include: (1) providing infants and pregnant and lactating women with moderate and severe acute malnutrition treatments though mobile clinics; (2) providing households with malnutrition screening tools; (3) providing at least 28 000 beneficiaries with SRH or GBV services; and (4) providing at least 27 342 beneficiaries with primary health care services.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to nutritional services to prevent detect and treat severe acute malnutrition and moderate acute malnutrition among girls and boys under the age of five and pregnant and lactating women; and (2) improved access to primary health care and sexual and reproductive health services including care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and women girls men and boys living in areas experiencing humanitarian crises. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.