Decades of conflict have left millions of people across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) facing violence, displacement and poverty.
NRC in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is on the ground, supporting urgent humanitarian needs in the eastern provinces, which have been hit hard by violence and insecurity.
What’s happening in DR Congo?
For three decades, DR Congo has been grappling with conflict, political instability and economic challenges. Violence remains widespread, and in early 2025 the M23 armed group expanded its control across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, including the major cities of Goma and Bukavu.
As a result of ongoing conflict, 9.7 million people were forced to flee from their homes in 2025. The latest fighting has triggered new waves of displacement, while also forcing hundreds of thousands of families to return to areas that often remain insecure. Across the country, fragile infrastructure makes it difficult to access healthcare, education and clean water, while malnutrition and disease outbreaks remain serious risks.
Congolese women and girls are particularly affected by the crisis, facing high risks of severe abuse, exploitation and sexual violence with lasting physical and psychological harm.
Our response
We’re working with our partners in the provinces of Ituri, South Kivu and North Kivu to support people in the following ways:
- Water, sanitation and hygiene – providing safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, as well as promoting better hygiene practices in settlement sites, schools and host and returnee communities.
- Shelter and settlements – providing emergency and transitional shelters, helping families repair damaged homes and supporting access to land and housing.
- Education – helping displaced children and young people access safe and inclusive learning opportunities that support their psychosocial and emotional wellbeing.
- Information, counselling and legal assistance – helping people fight forced evictions, claim their land and property rights, obtain vital legal documentation and support social cohesion through dialogue and mediation processes.
- Emergency response – responding rapidly to displacement with cash assistance, emergency shelter, water and sanitation, essential household and hygiene items, and helping children return quickly to safe learning.
Our operations
NRC office established: 2001
Areas of operation: Goma (Country Office), Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu
Country Director: Eric Batonon
Contact: eric.batonon@nrc.no
Our impact
In 2025, we assisted 459,229 people through our programmes in DR Congo:
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51,438Education
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1,200Livelihoods and food security
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37,625Shelter and settlements
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6,825Protection from violence
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68,593Information, counselling and legal assistance
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119,597Water, sanitation and hygiene
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287,898Multi-purpose cash assistance
Note: some people received more than one type of assistance.
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