FAO and WFP Sound Alarm Over Escalating Hunger Crisis in Eastern DRC

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have issued an urgent warning about the rapidly worsening humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where millions of people are facing severe food shortages amid ongoing conflict, displacement, and economic hardship.

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis released this week, 26.6 million people across the DRC are projected to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 and above) by early 2026. This represents a sharp increase from the current figure of 24.8 million. Alarmingly, 3.9 million people are now experiencing emergency levels of hunger (IPC Phase 4) — a surge from 3.2 million earlier this year.

Escalating Hunger in Conflict-Hit Eastern Provinces

The crisis is most acute in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika, where years of armed conflict have devastated livelihoods, disrupted food production, and displaced millions. The UN agencies report that by January 2026, more than 10 million people in these provinces — roughly one-third of their combined population — will face crisis levels of food insecurity or worse.

Within this group, 3 million people are already enduring emergency hunger conditions, accounting for 75 percent of all people in IPC Phase 4 nationwide. This marks an increase of 700,000 since March 2025, underscoring the deepening desperation in these communities.

"The eastern DRC's food crisis is escalating. Without urgent resources and action, millions of lives are at risk, and regional stability will suffer," warned Cynthia Jones, Acting Country Director and Representative for WFP in DRC.

Children Suffer the Most

Malnutrition rates among children remain alarmingly high, particularly in Ituri, South Kivu, and Tanganyika, where poor dietary diversity, disease outbreaks, and limited access to healthcare exacerbate vulnerability. Nearly half of all children under five — about 3.2 million nationwide — are stunted due to chronic undernutrition, severely affecting their growth and cognitive development.

FAO and WFP warn that without immediate intervention, these figures could rise dramatically as conflict and displacement continue to restrict access to food and essential services. An IPC Acute Malnutrition (AMN) analysis is currently underway to provide updated data on the crisis's full scope.

FAO: Building Resilience Through Agricultural Aid

The FAO emphasised that agricultural assistance remains one of the most cost-effective responses to humanitarian emergencies. "By equipping vulnerable and displaced families with the tools to grow their own food and earn income, this support not only addresses immediate hunger but also fosters resilience," said Athman Mravili, FAO Representative ad interim in DRC.

However, the agency's capacity to deliver aid is being crippled by funding shortages. By August 2025, FAO had reached only 217,000 people — a fraction of its target of 3.6 million. For 2026, the organisation requires US$127 million to scale up its response to assist 2.4 million people through the distribution of seeds, tools, and emergency agricultural support.

WFP: Funding Gaps Threaten Food Aid

The WFP's situation is equally dire. Despite prioritising the eastern provinces, funding shortfalls have forced the agency to drastically cut assistance. While WFP initially planned to reach 2.3 million people in 2025, it has only managed to assist 600,000 due to resource constraints. A complete pipeline break — where food aid runs out entirely — is anticipated by February 2026 unless additional funding is secured.

The WFP now faces a US$349 million funding gap through April 2026, threatening to push already fragile communities further into hunger and malnutrition. "We are working tirelessly with the government and the humanitarian community despite shrinking resources for this neglected crisis," Jones said.

Humanitarian Access and Security Challenges

Ongoing conflict between armed groups, widespread displacement, and logistical barriers continue to hinder humanitarian access, particularly in Ituri and North Kivu. Many rural areas remain cut off from regular aid deliveries, forcing families to rely on limited local resources, wild foods, or informal trade.

The situation has been further aggravated by the destruction of farmlands, livestock theft, and restricted access to markets. As a result, food prices have surged beyond the reach of many households, particularly in urban displacement sites and isolated villages.

A Call for Urgent Global Action

Both FAO and WFP have called on the international community to step up emergency funding and long-term development support for the DRC. The agencies warn that failing to act now could not only result in massive human suffering but also undermine regional stability in Central Africa.

"The time to act is now — before the cost becomes irreversible," Jones urged. "We must address both the immediate needs of millions going hungry and the root causes of food insecurity that perpetuate this crisis."

A Crisis That Demands Sustained Commitment

The DRC remains one of the world's largest and most complex humanitarian emergencies, with overlapping crises of conflict, poverty, and displacement. Despite being one of Africa's most resource-rich countries, decades of instability have left much of the population trapped in cycles of hunger and vulnerability.

FAO and WFP stressed that a coordinated approach — combining emergency relief with agricultural rehabilitation, peacebuilding, and infrastructure investment — is essential to breaking this cycle. Without it, millions of Congolese will continue to face an uncertain and hungry future.