Democratic Republic of the Congo: Humanitarian Response Plan 2024

ReliefWeb: Updates by Country 26.03.2024 19:20 Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Please refer to the attached file. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of Africa’s largest internal displacement crises, with 22 percent of the population acutely food insecure due to increased armed conflict and the impact of climate hazards. Emergency agricultural interventions offer cost‑effective solutions. For example, with a USD‑80 market gardening package, a family can quickly produce a variety of nutritious vegetables, worth USD 480 on the local market, improving their self‑reliance. Urgency of humanitarian agricultural assistance Despite being rich in natural resources, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still one of the five poorest countries in the world, with nearly 1 in 6 Congolese living in extreme poverty. And although the country’s economy relies heavily on the agriculture sector, employing a majority of women, it fails to ensure the population’s food security. Over 20 years of armed conflict and climate extremes such as floods – about 20 episodes recorded between 2010 and 2022 – continue to exacerbate food insecurity and malnutrition. Other key factors include crop diseases and poor access to agricultural inputs, leading to reduced production. In addition, recurring measles, cholera epidemics and persistent population movements are causing increased levels of malnutrition, with 1 in 15 children in the country acutely malnourished. In 2024, the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will continue including high levels of acute food insecurity. With over 21.8 million people in IPC Phase 3 or above living in rural areas, providing vulnerable households with time-sensitive agricultural support is fundamental to the humanitarian response.

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