The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is sounding the alarm over the rapidly deteriorating situation in the province of South Kivu, particularly in the territories of Fizi and Mwenga, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, DR Congo). On Wednesday, OCHA warned that more than 170,000 displaced people in one locality alone are cut off from vital aid.
OCHA's latest humanitarian access report shows that persistent fighting among armed groups and restrictions during the second and third quarters of 2025 severely limited or completely blocked humanitarian access in some places, including Minembwe, Itombwe, and Hauts Plateaux.
Since May, these areas have faced near-total isolation due to severe restrictions imposed by non-state armed groups, including the closure of key roads linking Fizi to Minembwe and denying access to humanitarian organizations. Reported threats have also forced several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to withdraw.
OCHA reports that the impact on civilians is devastating. In Minembwe alone, more than 170,000 displaced people and returnees are cut off from essential assistance.
Meanwhile, the health system is on the verge of collapse. Several facilities are experiencing prolonged shortages of medicine and supplies. The situation is particularly alarming at Minembwe General Reference Hospital.
From July to September 2025, over 60 percent (25 out of 40) of recorded deaths were children. According to data provided by hospital officials, the mortality rate among cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) reached 29 percent, with 16 deaths out of 55 children admitted.
OCHA reports that the food security situation is deteriorating rapidly. Road blockages have caused the price of basic staples to skyrocket. For example, sugar prices have increased sixfold, and the cost of cassava flour has more than tripled since January.
"Our partners have prepositioned supplies, including medicine and nutrition kits, in neighboring towns, but they cannot be delivered due to lack of access due to the insecurity," UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York on Wednesday.
"We urgently call on all parties to urgently protect civilians and ensure safe, unhindered humanitarian access so that life-saving aid can reach those who are trapped by violence."
Despite the insecurity and access constraints, a few humanitarian organizations are operating remotely and awaiting secure access to deliver supplies. Vital supplies have been pre-positioned in Baraka, Uvira, and Bukavu.
According to OCHA, aid agencies are planning an emergency access mission to facilitate the delivery of assistance to affected populations. Humanitarian teams are ready to deploy as soon as armed actors provide the necessary security guarantees for their movement.
DRC faces one of the world's largest and most complex humanitarian crises
For years, the human rights and humanitarian crises in DR Congo have been spiraling, prompting the United Nations to repeatedly warn of the dire situation and urge the international community to pay more attention to the plight of Congolese civilians.
The eastern provinces, particularly South Kivu, North Kivu, and Ituri, have been plagued by violence for decades as non-state armed groups fight for control of the region's rich natural resources. Many of those forced to flee have been displaced multiple times. Urgent humanitarian needs encompass food, protection, shelter, and sanitation.
Further complicating matters, the country is grappling with several major health emergencies, including measles, mpox, and cholera. Since the beginning of this year, DRC has experienced a concerning surge in epidemics, particularly measles and cholera.
Despite the severity of the situation, the world has largely turned a blind eye to the ongoing emergency. With more than 21 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, the country is experiencing one of the world's largest and most complex humanitarian crises.
According to the latest food security analysis, 26.6 million Congolese are projected to face crisis levels of acute hunger or worse by early 2026. The situation is most dire in the conflict-ridden eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika. Ongoing conflict, violence, displacement, and limited humanitarian access are exacerbating food insecurity in these provinces.
By January 2026, more than 10 million people — roughly one-third of the population in these four provinces — are expected to experience crisis levels of hunger, with 3 million already facing emergency conditions. These figures represent 75 percent of all Congolese facing emergency hunger nationwide, marking a substantial increase of 700,000 people since March 2025.
Severe access restrictions and funding shortages continue to hamper the entire humanitarian response effort, forcing many aid agencies to scale back their operations and disrupting life-saving services for those in desperate need. As a result, the lives of millions of people in the country are endangered.
The 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan requests US$2.5 billion to provide assistance to 11 million people. However, it is currently only 20 percent funded, having received just $514 million to date.