DRC: The forgotten crisis affecting millions of displaced people

The DRC is almost never in French TV news headlines. And yet, it is one of the most severe, longest-running, and most neglected humanitarian crises on the planet. For decades, the east of the country has been torn apart by armed conflicts that displace millions of civilians and strain humanitarian capacities.

This guide explains what is really happening in the DRC, why it's so difficult to resolve, and how you can take concrete action from France.

What is the situation in the DRC in 2026?

The crisis is concentrated in the eastern part of the country: the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika account for the majority of the violence and displacement. The conflict involves dozens of armed groups, including the M23, which is supported by Rwanda according to the UN, and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC).

According to the OCHA report published in February 2026, in January 2026 alone, 74,000 people were forced to flee their homes, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons to 6.47 million. Among them, 76% fled due to the activity of armed groups and clashes. Women and children represent 80% of this uprooted population.

Key figures of the crisis

Sources: OCHA DRC, January and February 2026 reports

Why has the crisis in the DRC lasted so long?

The DRC is the second-largest country in Africa, with considerable natural resources (coltan, cobalt, gold, diamonds). These riches have fueled greed and conflict for decades.

Several factors make resolving the crisis particularly difficult:

• The multiplicity of armed actors : over 100 armed groups operate in the east of the country, with very different agendas and funding.
• Theregional interference : neighboring countries directly or indirectly support some of these groups
• The weakness of the state in certain remote areas: the regular army does not control the entire territory
• Thevastness of the territory : conflict zones are often difficult to access and lack infrastructure

This complexity does not excuse the crisis's media invisibility. It partly explains why the international community struggles to commit to it long-term.

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Image : map of eastern DRC showing conflict provinces (North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Tanganyika) — alt : "Carte crise humanitaire est RDC provinces conflit déplacés 2026"

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Who are the affected populations?

Behind the numbers are faces. The vast majority of displaced people in the DRC are civilians who play no role in the conflicts. They are farmers, herders, families who lived in remote villages and lost everything overnight.

The most vulnerable people are female heads of household: in North Kivu, according to OCHA, 91.2% of them are in a state of poor food consumption. Children are particularly at risk: severe acute malnutrition, diseases, and inability to access school. In South Kivu alone, 688,000 students were deprived of access to education in January 2026.

The majority of displaced people live with host families who share the little they have. Others crowd into collective centers, schools, or churches. Still others sleep outdoors.

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Image : photo of displaced families in eastern DRC, women and children in a camp or with a host family — alt : "Familles déplacées est RDC femmes enfants aide humanitaire Life"

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How Life ONG Intervenes in the DRC

Life ONG has been operating in eastern DRC for several years, in a particularly challenging operational context. Its programs target the most urgent needs of displaced populations:

• Emergency food aid : aid package and cash distributions for displaced families
• Access to drinking water : support for water points in affected areas
• Essential kits : hygiene, emergency shelters, blankets
• Support for host communities : families hosting displaced people also experience an economic shock that Life seeks to alleviate

Life works with local partners who understand the local dynamics and can access areas often inaccessible to international humanitarian actors.

To follow Life's operations in the DRC, visit life-ong.org/urgences/rdcongo. Our donor relations team is available to provide you with accurate information on ongoing programs.

Why donating to the DRC is particularly useful today

The crisis in the DRC is one of the most underfunded in the world. In 2025, barely 23.9% of needs were met. In 2026, the response plan was reduced due to lack of funds: millions of vulnerable people who should have received aid will receive none.

In this context, every euro donated to Life for the DRC fills a gap left by the disengagement of institutional donors.

To understand how NGOs manage humanitarian emergencies and how your donation is utilized on the ground, our article Humanitarian Emergency: How NGOs Respond on the Ground explains the entire mechanism. To learn more about another forgotten crisis in Africa, read our article Crisis in Sudan: Understanding the Situation and Where to Donate. And to understand how international humanitarian law is supposed to protect civilians in these areas, our article International Humanitarian Law: The Rules That Protect Civilians in War Zones sets the stage.

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