UNFPA DRC Situation Report #5 - February 2025

The humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC is rapidly worsening due to ongoing conflict between the national armed forces (FARDC) and M23 rebels, displacing over 700,000 people since January 2025. The escalation of violence, including the deployment of Ugandan troops (UPDF) in Ituri, has further destabilized the region. Women and girls face heightened risks of gender-based violence (GBV), while the destruction of health facilities has severely limited access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Attacks on hospitals have left the few remaining facilities overwhelmed, with critical shortages of medical supplies, staff, and essential resources.

UNFPA has activated a Level 3 emergency response to rapidly scale up life-saving SRH and GBV services. In partnership with local health authorities and humanitarian organizations, UNFPA is deploying midwives, providing reproductive health kits, and strengthening referral systems for obstetric emergencies. Safe spaces, GBV case management, and psychosocial support remain operational despite security challenges, but mobile health clinics have been suspended in several IDP sites due to insecurity. Coordination mechanisms for SRH and GBV are in place, but urgent resources are needed to sustain and expand these essential services.

UNFPA requires US$18 million from February to August 2025 to strengthen integrated SRH and GBV services in North and South Kivu. This funding will support mobile health clinics, the procurement of essential reproductive health supplies, staff recruitment, and the expansion of safe spaces and GBV response services. Immediate donor support is critical to sustaining life-saving interventions and protecting the most vulnerable populations.