March 2016 – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to experience one of the most complex and protracted humanitarian crises in the world, with numerous, large-scale displacement and returnee movements, extremely low level basic services leading to large-scale cholera and measles epidemics, increasing refugee populations, and over 50 different armed groups that continue to terrorize communities, particularly in Orientale, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Katanga provinces. At least 1.6 million people in the DRC are internally displaced and a further 500,000 Congolese are living as refugees in neighbouring countries. Approximately 5 million people are food insecure, and acute malnutrition is estimated at 8 per cent. Protection concerns remain very high, with sexual violence and other abuses related to the violence plaguing vast numbers of civilians. Humanitarian needs could further increase if insecurity grows in relation to the deepening political crisis over elections planned for late this year. Overall, an estimated 7.5 million people in the DRC (roughly 9% of the total population) are expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2016 (an increase of 500,000 over this time last year). With the support of GAC and other donors, Doctors Without Borders is helping to meet the basic health needs of up to 350,000 conflict-affected people in Manono territory, Tanganyika province. Through its support to local hospitals and health centres in this area, Doctors Without Borders is supporting conflict-affected communities to access quality life-saving healthcare. Project activities include: (1) providing primary healthcare, including reproductive health, immunizations, ambulatory therapeutic feeding, and health promotion activities to up to 77,000 people; (2) providing secondary health care, including emergency surgery and pediatric inpatient care, to up to 1,800 people; and (3) providing training and support to staff at seven health centres and one hospital to recognize and respond to disease outbreaks and other health-related emergencies.
