WOMEN and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo face one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises as conflict-related sexual violence has surged 33 percent compared to last year, UN officials warned Tuesday.
Shoko Arakaki, Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Humanitarian Response Division, said she witnessed devastating conditions during a recent visit to Kinshasa and Goma, where women and girls are being raped and abused in camps, during transit, and in their own communities.
“Even before current escalations, three women died every hour from pregnancy and birth-related complications in DRC,” Arakaki said at a press briefing in Geneva. Access to reproductive health services has been significantly impacted by the ongoing violence.
Among those affected is a 14-year-old girl who was raped multiple times and is now receiving fistula repair surgery at a UNFPA-supported hospital. Despite her trauma, she still hopes to return to school after recovery, Arakaki said.
UNFPA has classified the DRC with its highest severity rating and is providing essential health services, including post-rape care, cash assistance, vocational training, and community resilience programs. The agency is targeting 1.4 million people with humanitarian assistance in 2025, but the appeal is currently only 50 percent funded.
The broader UN humanitarian needs and response plan for DRC requires $2.5 billion but has received just $410 million—16 percent of the total—according to Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service Geneva. Health partners urgently need $6 million to procure essential supplies and maintain lifesaving services.
“Without access to reproductive services, women and girls will die,” Arakaki warned. “They need help now, more than ever.”
Arakaki said she met with DRC’s Minister of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action, who expressed deep concern about the situation in the country’s east. While the government supports protection efforts for women and girls, it cannot currently access affected territories and has requested UNFPA assistance.
The UN called on all parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access.
