The escalating humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has reached alarming levels, prompting urgent intervention from the United Nations.

During a briefing at the UN Security Council on June 26, 2026, James Swan, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in DR Congo and head of MONUSCO, painted a grim picture of the ongoing conflict’s humanitarian toll across the eastern provinces.

With international humanitarian funding dwindling, Swan revealed that the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan, launched in January, has only achieved 53.3% of its funding target. He urged international partners to urgently mobilize the remaining resources to address the growing needs in DR Congo.

“The humanitarian crisis in DR Congo remains severe. Nearly 27 million people—over a quarter of the population—are suffering from food insecurity. The 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan prioritizes 7.3 million people for urgent aid, backed by a $1.4 billion budget, currently funded at just 53.3%. I extend my gratitude to donors for their generosity while urgently calling for the release of all necessary funds to meet the critical needs of the Congolese people,” Swan stated.

These warnings from MONUSCO come as fighting continues in several areas of North Kivu and South Kivu, where humanitarian needs are surging despite diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire and implement peace agreements.

Facing a critical funding shortfall, humanitarian organizations in DR Congo must strictly prioritize their 2026 response. In January 2026, the DR Congo government and humanitarian partners launched an urgent appeal for $1.4 billion to address the country’s needs. However, without sufficient funding, humanitarian efforts in 2026 will focus solely on 7.3 million people out of nearly 15 million with urgent assistance and protection needs.

The consequences of underfunding were starkly evident in 2025. Over 1,000 nutrition centers closed, leaving more than 390,000 children with severe acute malnutrition without essential care. Additionally, 1.5 million people lost access to primary healthcare due to facility closures, medicine shortages, and reduced epidemic prevention and response capacity. Monthly food assistance targets were slashed by up to 73%, exposing vulnerable populations to heightened risks of hunger and deprivation.