Though beset by humanitarian challenges, Democratic Republic of the Congo is also a land of hope - Deputy U.N. relief chief

(Kinshasa, 10 February 2023) Despite complex challenges in delivering humanitarian assistance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country’s resilience, coupled with the courage and dedication of aid workers, are a beacon of hope, a top United Nations humanitarian official said today.

“This is a country of opportunity,” said Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, wrapping up a six-day visit to the country. “I was truly humbled to meet with dedicated humanitarians, both national and international, who work tirelessly to reach communities in need, especially in the restive eastern region.”

The country is home to both the largest number of displaced people in Africa, at 5.7 million, and the largest number of acutely food insecure people in a single country worldwide, at 26 million.

“This is the world’s third largest humanitarian crisis,” Ms. Msuya noted. “One in four people are in need in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Now is not the time to pull back our support; rather, we must re-energize our commitment to help those in need.”

For part of her mission, Ms. Msuya was joined by Matthew Nims, Deputy Assistant to the Administrator of the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

They had intended to visit sites for internally displaced people in the east of the country, but they were unable to travel to Goma, in North Kivu Province, due to the security situation.

“I was incredibly disappointed to not be able to speak directly with people uprooted from their homes, some multiple times, to hear their stories and their hopes of rebuilding their lives,” Ms. Msuya said. “The insecurity, which has affected the country’s east for more than two decades, remains one of the greatest obstacles to humanitarian operations.”

Ms. Msuya held talks with senior Government officials, members of the diplomatic community and donors.

She also met with international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), whom she called the “unsung heroes of the humanitarian response.”

All of her discussions centred on finding ways to improve humanitarian access to people in need, accountability to affected people, and empowering local organizations and communities.

“I was grateful for the opportunity to listen, learn and collaborate on solutions that make a difference,” Ms. Msuya said. “We cannot rest until we find durable solutions to the heartbreaking crisis affecting millions of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

For further information, please contact:

New York: Eri Kaneko + 1 917 2088910, kaneko@un.org

OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int