The UN, its humanitarian partners and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday launched the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for the country, calling for $1.4 billion.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric disclosed this at a news conference at UN headquarters in New York.

Mr Dujarric said the organisation received less than a quarter of the $2.5 billion in 2025, noting that more funding is needed to reach people in need.

DRC is one of the world’s most protracted and most neglected humanitarian crises, driven by conflict, displacement, climate shocks and epidemics.

Out of a population of 113 million, nearly 15 million people in the country need humanitarian support. However, severe funding shortages mean that we will aim to reach 7.3 million of them this year.

According to him, the funds received in 2025 resulted in fewer services for people who really needed them.

He said, “Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that 1,000 nutrition centres were forced to close in 2025, denying life-saving care to nearly 400,000 severely malnourished children.

“Some 1.5 million people also lost access to primary healthcare due to the closure of health facilities, shortages of vital medicine and reduced capacity to respond to epidemics. Food assistance was also impacted, with monthly rations cut by up to 70 per cent in eastern provinces.’’

The spokesperson said fighting in the northeast of the country had further disrupted humanitarian operations in the region.

“This year, without adequate funding, the response won’t match the scale of the needs,’’ he said

Mr Dujarric also spoke about the country’s peacekeeping operations, noting that UN peacekeepers had facilitated the voluntary repatriation of 34 Rwandan nationals from Goma to Rwanda.

“This was done at the request of Congolese authorities, and I can tell you that the group included 15 former combatants of the FDLR armed group and 19 family members. The group was handed over to the Rwandan authorities for follow-up support, including social reintegration.

“The UN peacekeeping mission has observed an increase in voluntary surrenders by individuals affiliated with the FDLR in the areas around Goma.

“In total, 60 people have been repatriated since January 2026, including 33 former combatants and 27 family members. In line with its mandate, the Peacekeeping mission continues to support Congolese authorities to facilitate the disarmament, resettlement, and repatriation of FDLR combatants,’’ he said.  

(NAN)