Kinshasa is grappling with a worsening humanitarian crisis as thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) flee relentless conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s eastern provinces. Without adequate shelter or medical care, 16 have already perished in the capital.
Families from North-Kivu and South-Kivu have been fleeing for over a year, escaping the advance of the M23 rebel movement. Others have come from Ituri, where clashes involving armed groups like the Congolese Development Cooperative (Codéco) and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have intensified displacement.
desperate conditions for the displaced
More than 2,600 households in Kinshasa now face severe humanitarian challenges. Many have been forced out of churches and mosques that once provided temporary refuge, leaving them without safe housing or basic necessities.
The crisis disproportionately affects the most vulnerable—pregnant women, people with disabilities, children, students, and the elderly—who lack access to healthcare, food, and shelter.
“We have pregnant women, people with disabilities, children, students, and the elderly here. None of them have access to medical care, proper housing, or food. Their suffering is complete,” says Jordan Mulikuza, president of displaced persons from eastern DRC in Kinshasa.
students caught in the crossfire
Many students who came to Kinshasa for education have been stranded as war disrupted their families. Some lost parents to violence, while others struggle to survive in the city.
Jacques Chiza, a student representative, describes the dire conditions: “We face extreme hardship. Most of us go hungry. Many sleep outside because there’s nowhere to stay. We have no assistance. We urgently need help—the situation is beyond alarming.”
calls for urgent government intervention
With 16 deaths recorded due to lack of medical attention, displaced communities have repeatedly appealed to authorities and humanitarian groups for support. Jordan Mulikuza warns: “We face new illnesses daily. I urge the international community, the UN, and the government to act before it’s too late. The president must intervene immediately.”
While displaced persons seek organized camps for better aid access, government officials acknowledge studying long-term solutions but admit no immediate decisions have been made to assist those struggling in Kinshasa.
