Over 450,000 Congolese Displaced, Facing Severe Hunger Amid M23 Violence

The ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has led to significant humanitarian crises, with M23 fighters displacing thousands and exacerbating food insecurity. Residents of displacement camps, like Tumusifu and her family, were forced to flee again from Bulengo camp as conditions deteriorated, returning to their villages where food scarcity and violence persist. The UN reports that since January, six humanitarian workers have been killed, and over 100,000 people have fled due to escalating clashes, particularly in the Lubero Territory. While some schools in South Kivu are reopening, widespread human rights violations, including sexual violence, are reported amid the fighting. UN Peacekeeping Operations emphasizes the need for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian access in light of the precarious situation. The overall security remains unstable, with many areas under M23 control facing dire humanitarian conditions.