Food security in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is deteriorating as conflict continues to drive tens of thousands of people from their homes.
Approximately 24.8 million people (21 percent of the population) are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity between September and December 2025. More than 3.2 million people (3 percent of the population) are facing Emergency levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 4), characterised by large food gaps and high levels of acute malnutrition, while 21.5 million people (18 percent of the population) are in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). Three territories—Djugu and Mambasa (Ituri) and Masisi (North Kivu)—are now classified in Phase 4, whereas no areas were classified in Phase 4 in the previous analysis for the same period last year.
The overall food security situation is likely to worsen over the projection period (January-June 2026) as 26.6 million people (22 percent of the population) are projected to face Phase 3 or above—an increase of 1.8 million people compared to the current period. Six additional territories are expected to see their situation deteriorate to Phase 4. They are Lubero and Walikale (North Kivu), Kalehe and Fizi (South Kivu), Kongolo and Moba (Tanganyika). Djugu, Mambasa and Masisi will continue to be in Phase 4.
The persistent conflict and population displacement as well as flooding and impacts of the lean season, especially in the eastern part of the country, will drive this deterioration. This, combined with the expected further reductions in humanitarian food aid will leave vulnerable populations at risk of slipping into higher levels of acute food insecurity.

Escalating conflict in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has exacerbated the food crisis, leaving an estimated 27.7 million Congolese (24 percent of the analysed population) facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between January and June 2025. This includes approximately 3.9 million in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and over 23.8 million in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).
In this projection update, the situation deteriorated in the four provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika, with more than 10.3 million people facing Phase 3 or above, including 7.9 million people in Phase 3 and 2.3 million in Phase 4.

Over 21 million people in DR Congo facing high levels of acute food insecurity driven by conflict, COVID-19, flooding and economic decline