Intensified violence in the northeast during the A season harvest period

Since mid-December 2021, the A season harvest has been underway for the main food crops in the northeastern and central-eastern parts of the country. Despite low household participation in this agricultural season A due to insecurity and COVID-19 restrictions, the current harvests should improve household food consumption in the affected eastern areas over the next two months.

The territory of Uvira has seen an escalation in violence since December 2021, following clashes between various Burundian armed groups, notably RED Tabara and Imbonerakure, who are fighting each other on Congolese soil, resulting in new displacements. According to OCHA, 23,145 people were newly displaced in December 2021, adding to the 128,000 already there and representing a 19% increase since October 2021, out of a current total of 152,145 displaced people registered in the territory. This latest crisis augurs difficult conditions for these displaced people, who will not be able to participate in the upcoming B season.

Despite the extension of the state of siege and the FARDC offensive supported by the Ugandan army, the populations of the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri continue to suffer the exactions of armed groups and are constantly on the move. According to the latest RRM report for the area, the Beni territory recorded 13,141 newly displaced households during the period November-December 2021, deprived of the harvests of the A agricultural season, these households live on the solidarity of host communities and humanitarian assistance could miss the start of the B agricultural season. At the next lean season from April to May, we could expect a severe deterioration in food consumption among these population groups. 

Despite the increase in new cases of COVID-19 in mid-December 2021 as a result of the Omicron variant, the epidemiological situation of the pandemic appears to be under control. The number of new cases is falling significantly, as are test positivity and mortality rates.  However, vaccination coverage remains very low throughout the country, putting the DRC at a distance from any possible herd immunity. Despite this, we can expect a relaxation of harmful restrictions on certain livelihoods, which could improve household incomes and access to food. 

In this month of January, which kicks off the harvest period throughout the northeastern and central-eastern parts of the country, the provinces of Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele and Tshopo are in Minimal (IPC Phase 1), while much of the central-eastern region (Sankuru, Maniema and part of Sud-Kivu) are in Stress (IPC Phase 2), except for the provinces of Tanganyika and Southern Kasaï (Kamonia) and Kasaï Central (Luiza), which are in Crisis. The provinces of Ituri and Nord-Kivu are also in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).