Violence continues in the northeast during the A season harvest period

Since mid-December 2022, the A season harvest has been underway for the main food crops in the northeast and central-east of the country. Despite low household participation in this agricultural season A due to insecurity, various restrictions and flooding in the north-western part of the country, the current harvests should improve the household food situation over the next two months.

The humanitarian situation in the DRC continues to deteriorate as the number of people on the move continues to grow. Cholera and measles epidemics are spreading among these displaced populations without an effective response. According to the Ministry of Health, nearly 700 cases of measles have already been reported in the Oicha health zone in Beni territory, while an average of around 600 cases of cholera are recorded every week in the IDPs in Nyiragongo. With the ongoing epidemics, the humanitarian situation is worsening as assistance declines due to poor funding of the humanitarian response plan for Rutshuru.

In December 2022, the prices of the main local and imported food products remained stable compared with November 2022; but compared with the same period of the previous year, they were up by between 10 and 43 percent. Despite the stability observed for foodstuffs with the A season harvests, access to food for a large proportion of poor households who have not cultivated due to displacement remains a major concern, particularly in the eastern region, which is experiencing ongoing conflict.

Despite the Luanda agreements, which recommend that the M23 rebels, among others, withdraw from conquered territories, clashes continue between rebels and local militias in Rutshuru and Masisi, and the displacement of populations continues. In early January 2023, almost 1,000 new displaced households were welcomed in the Kanyarutshinya camp in Nyiragongo.  According to OCHA, a total of 554,000 people have been displaced since the start of the M23 crisis, with the majority unlikely to participate in the next agricultural season.

At this harvest time in the northeast and central-east of the country, the provinces of Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele and Tshopo are in Minimal (IPC Phase 1), while populations in conflict zones with food consumption deficits, namely the provinces of Kasaï, Maniema, Tanganyika, Ituri, Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu, are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3). Some areas in Rutshuru and Djugu, which are experiencing significant food consumption deficits, are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). On the other hand, areas with minimally adequate food consumption (Maniema, Lomami, Lwalaba) remain in Stress (IPC Phase 2).