DR Congo
Facts
In 2016 NRC reached
381,342
Individuals, with education, food security, ICLA and WASH/shelter and emergency response.
Humanitarian and political background
Decades of armed violence, human rights violations, and extreme poverty have displaced millions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A recent surge in violence has made it harder to reach out with aid to the many people who need it.
Two decade-long emergency
DRC has been in a situation of emergency for 20 years. There are few indications that the long-lasting crisis in the eastern part of the country will come to an end anytime soon. Fighting in Eastern DRC remains a concern with the continuous clashes between different groups in the North Kivu Beni area. Political instability is one of the main drivers of violence and internal displacement across the country.
The rapid and escalating displacement of Congolese citizens will likely be the greatest humanitarian concern in the coming period. Increased fighting in the Kasai region in central DRC has rapidly deteriorated the situation in the country. The area has seen continuous, violent armed clashes since August 2016, when tribal leader Kamuina Nsapu was killed. With fighting getting worse, many displaced people have been migrating further out — across the Congolese border into Angola.
In late 2016, 2.2 million people were displaced within the country. In March 2017, the number soared to an estimated 3.7 million, a 60 per cent increase in three months. The surge was mainly caused by the conflict in Kasai.
People we helped in the DR Congo in 2016
NRC in the Democratic Republic of Congo
From our three area offices in DRC, we strive to cover the basic needs of people affected by displacement.
We assist displacement-affected people in DRC, whether they are displaced or members of host communities. We provide water and sanitation services, food security, education and give people legal advice.
Education
We provide access to quality education in a safe environment in order to support children and youth to play an active role in the peaceful development of their communities.
Our education activities:
- Provide children with education and protection through emergency teacher training packages, youth programmes, education- in- emergency projects and accelerated education, ensuring that out-of-school children can catch up with their peers.
Food security
We support people affected by displacement with food assistance. We also strive to prevent their resources from eroding. Our food security programme is two-fold and provides:
- Access to food and household items for people affected by displacement in acute need of food.
- Livelihood opportunities and productivity to ensure that vulnerable people better adapt and withstand future shocks and crises.
Wash and shelter
We support the construction of school buildings to create environments where children and families can safely learn and live.
Our shelter activities aim to:
- Support the construction of schools and classrooms.
- Construct and repair water points and latrines and spread knowledge about safe hygiene practices to people affected by displacement.
Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA)
We help people learn about and exercise their property rights and obtain civil documentation.
We help people learn about and exercise their property rights and obtain civil documentation.
Our ICLA activities aim to:
- Provide information, trainings and dispute resolution services so that people can learn about and exercise their property rights.
- Resolve land conflicts.
- Increase tenure security.
- Help people obtain civil documentation, particularly birth and marriage certificates.
- Integrate greater protection for women's rights into activities.
- Emphasise equal access to land and women's security of tenure.
