More than 136,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since January, as intensified fighting continues to drive instability across the region, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Monday. The displaced population has poured into neighboring countries, with Uganda and Burundi bearing the brunt of the ongoing crisis.
According to UNICEF’s latest situation report, Uganda has taken in nearly 67,000 Congolese refugees, while over 70,000 have crossed into Burundi. A significant portion of these new arrivals are women and children, many of whom have endured dangerous journeys to escape armed conflict. The UN agency has warned that this wave of displacement is pushing host countries’ resources and humanitarian services to the brink.
“Eastern DRC is now the epicenter of one of the most urgent and underfunded humanitarian emergencies in the world,” the agency emphasized. Refugees arriving in Uganda and Burundi are in immediate need of life-sustaining support, including access to food, clean water, healthcare, and safety from violence and exploitation. However, the infrastructure in border areas is ill-equipped to cope with such a large and rapid influx, and transit centers are now operating well beyond their intended capacity.
UNICEF highlighted growing concerns over public health, especially with the onset of the rainy season. Increased rainfall is likely to lead to flooding and the rapid spread of disease in crowded, unsanitary conditions. The report pointed to alarming rates of malnutrition among children, along with outbreaks of cholera and measles, which are placing additional pressure on overstretched medical services.
To meet the growing needs, UNICEF has launched an appeal for $22 million in emergency funding. The agency warned that without a swift financial response, it will not be able to sustain critical services such as emergency health care, nutritional support, water and sanitation programs, and child protection.
The worsening humanitarian situation is closely tied to the renewed conflict involving the M23 rebel group. Since the start of the year, M23 has stepped up its military campaign, capturing key towns including Goma and Bukavu, and forcing massive displacement across North and South Kivu provinces. The group’s resurgence has not only deepened insecurity but has also complicated humanitarian access, leaving aid agencies struggling to reach the most vulnerable communities.
As violence persists and displacement rises, UNICEF and its partners are calling on the international community to urgently mobilize resources and increase support to avert further human suffering in the region. The eastern DRC has long been affected by cycles of conflict and instability, but the current crisis, UNICEF warns, is pushing an already fragile situation to breaking point.