*Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo* – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched its 2024 Crisis Response Plan for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), seeking to address the critical needs of conflict and disaster-affected populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities.
The DRC continues to face one of the most complex and multifaceted crises in the world, with a deteriorating security, political, and humanitarian situation in the eastern part of the country. The persistent activities of armed groups, inter-community conflicts, and demographic pressures have led to massive displacements of populations, with 6.9 million IDPs across the country.
The IOM’s 2024 Response Plan aims to provide multisectoral humanitarian assistance, including site management services, shelter, non-food items, food, water, and sanitation services, protection support, health, and education services. The plan also focuses on addressing the drivers of forced displacement, creating conditions for socioeconomic development, and promoting peaceful coexistence.
The response plan comes as the DRC faces a high risk of natural hazards, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, droughts, and disease epidemics. The country’s vulnerability to these hazards is exacerbated by poverty and political insecurity.
IOM’s efforts will be crucial in supporting the Government’s Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Reintegration, and Stabilization Programme (P-DDRCS) strategy, which aims to address the root causes and drivers of conflicts.
The international community is urged to support the IOM’s 2024 Response Plan to ensure a collective and efficient crisis response to the humanitarian needs in the DRC.
