INTERSOS’ INTERVENTION

In such a complex crisis, INTERSOS has guaranteed a wide range of services for the population. The frequent and intense armed clashes involving civilians have made protection activities a priority, in areas where the risk of gender-based violence and forced recruitment of minors is very high.

Thanks to more than 80 workers specialised in protection monitoring, who collected data on the ground, INTERSOS was able to map the needs and risks of the population and offer accurate and comprehensive assistance.

Survivors of rights violations, including gender-based violence, were supported in their socio-economic reintegration through legal, economic and psychological support. Awareness-raising activities to prevent gender-based violence were carried out in all provinces where INTERSOS is present.

During 2022, our staff continued to carry out prevention and awareness-raising activities on malnutrition, distribute therapeutic food to children under five years old suffering from severe acute malnutrition and support specialised health facilities.

CONTEXT

The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced 30 years of persistent armed conflict and inter-communal violence that has resulted in widespread human rights violations and forced displacement of entire generations.

2022 saw an escalation of armed violence involving the armed group M23 in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, forcing tens of thousands to flee to Goma in search of safety. The number of internally displaced people, the highest on the African continent, reached 5.7 million, a third of whom found refuge in the province of Ituri, currently home to 1.7 million people.

The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo is complex and multi-layered, with 26 million people food insecure. Malnutrition affects 856.000 children under five and 468.000 pregnant or lactating women. In a context characterised by a lack of health facilities, outbreaks of epidemics are frequent.