Food & water
Over 28 Million DRC Residents Face Acute Hunger as Conflict, Ebola and El Niño Intensify Crisis
More than 28 million Congolese face acute food insecurity, with conflict‑driven displacement, a fast‑spreading Ebola outbreak across eight provinces and the looming El Niño expected to worsen hunger in 2027.
American Impact Alliance News Desk2 minute read
Scale of the Current Food Crisis
The latest IPC alert, covering September 2026 through June 2027, estimates that roughly 28.8 million Congolese—about 23 percent of the national population assessed—are in Phase 3 or higher on the five‑stage food‑insecurity scale. Within that group, more than 3.6 million people, or three percent, are already in emergency conditions classified as Phase 4. The three eastern provinces most affected—North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri—account for 10.4 million individuals in Phase 3 or above, and four territories inside them (Djugu, Fizi, Shabunda and Walungu) have been placed in Phase 4. Displaced persons, returnees, refugees and the poorest households are disproportionately represented among those facing the most severe scarcity.
Drivers Behind Worsening Hunger
Conflict and violence in the east continue to force population movements, disrupt agricultural cycles and block market access, according to the IPC. At the same time, the Ebola outbreak, now recording more than 10,000 cases and spreading from its origin in Ituri to eight provinces, compounds health vulnerabilities and hampers response activities. Rising prices for food, fuel and agricultural inputs further erode household purchasing power. Climate shocks, including recent floods and the anticipated El Niño phenomenon, threaten to damage crops and infrastructure, creating a perfect storm of factors that push more families toward hunger.
Projected Outlook and Humanitarian Gaps
Looking ahead to the first half of 2027, the IPC projects that the number of people in Phase 3 or higher could rise to about 30.3 million, with roughly 4.2 million expected to slip into emergency Phase 4 conditions. The forecast attributes the increase to the persistence of armed conflict, the continued spread of Ebola, and the expected impacts of El Niño‑related flooding that may curtail agricultural production and limit market routes. Additional pressures include climbing food and fuel costs and a noted decline in humanitarian assistance, which together risk deepening the severity and geographic spread of hunger across the country.