Over a Million Children in Congo at Risk of Acute Malnutrition Amid Rising Violence

The Democratic Republic of Congo faces a worsening humanitarian crisis, with over one million children at risk of acute malnutrition due to escalating violence and conflicts. The WHO reports severe food insecurity, displacement, and inadequate humanitarian funding are exacerbating the situation, with potential for further deterioration.

More than one million children are at risk from acute malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as rising violence drives up needs among millions of displaced people, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated on Friday. The two-year conflict between Congolese forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia in eastern regions has worsened, displacing 2.7 million in North Kivu alone.

Severe flooding, landslides, and other long-standing conflicts have compounded the crisis, with around 25 million people currently requiring humanitarian aid, according to the WHO. 'If immediate action is not taken to address basic needs in DRC, over one million children will suffer from acute malnutrition,' WHO's Senior Emergency Officer Adelheid Marschang said during a Geneva press briefing.

The malnutrition is attributed to pervasive and recurring food insecurity in conflict-ridden areas, Marschang noted, with children in the central Kasai provinces also at risk. Already, hundreds of thousands of children are suffering from malnutrition, making them more vulnerable to diseases like cholera and measles.

Humanitarian access is severely constrained by military presence, bureaucratic obstacles, and roadblocks that disrupt aid delivery, the WHO reported. The UN's $2.6 billion funding plan for Congo is currently only 26% funded, further complicating relief efforts.

(With inputs from agencies.)