Eastern DRC’s Humanitarian Crisis: Urgent Need for Global Solidarity to Protect SRHR Access and Information

Co-authored by Hesperian Health Guides and YARH DRC

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a nation torn apart by decades of conflict, remains one of the world's most complex and prolonged political and military crises. Despite the scale of the humanitarian emergency and the severe human rights violations occurring, information about the ongoing conflict—especially regarding the plight of women and girls—remains underreported and poorly disseminated on the global stage. Media coverage often overlooks the depth of the crisis, leaving the international community and broader public unaware of the extent of the violence, displacement, and systemic abuses taking place. The lack of widespread awareness of this crisis in the DRC hinders global advocacy efforts and delays the mobilization of critical humanitarian aid.

Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is used as a weapon of war, causing profound physical and psychological suffering for victims. According the a report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) published in April 2024, more than 10% of women aged 20 to 44 reported having been raped in the five months preceding the survey. In some displaced persons camps around Goma, this figure reaches 17%. Since the escalation of violence in January 2025, women and girls have been disproportionately affected. Reports indicate that there have been thousands of cases of sexual violence documented in just the past month. Displaced women and girls, many living in overcrowded and unsanitary camps, are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking, and gender-based violence.

A tragic and horrific event occurred recently at Goma prison: a woman was raped and then burned alive.  This brutal act of violence has sparked widespread outrage and led to further investigation of violent acts against women in Congolese prisons. According to a reproductive health working group report for January 2025, following the most recent outbreak of violence, there were 581 cases of gender-based violence (GBV), and over 150 female prisoners were raped and burned. UNICEF reported that during the week of January 27 to February 2, 2025, the number of rape victims treated at 42 health facilities quintupled. One mother confided that her six daughters, the youngest barely 12 years old, were systematically raped by armed men when they went out in search of food.

Abuses Committed by Rebel Groups and Their Allies
Rebel groups in the DRC have been accused of numerous atrocities, including killings and rapes. In November 2022, M23 rebels raped at least 66 women and girls in eastern DRC. More recently, in January 2025, reports indicated new waves of violence, with children executed and women raped in front of their families, worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region. The collapse of infrastructure and health systems has deprived thousands of people of vital sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.

Social Media Blackouts and Their Impact on Women
Amid the current crisis, the Congolese government ordered the suspension of certain social media platforms, including X and TikTok, starting February 1, 2025. This measure aims to limit the spread of information related to the conflict in the east of the country. These internet and social media blackouts have severe consequences, particularly for women, restricting their access to information, and healthcare services, and limiting their participation in public and political life. The blackout also prevents women from sharing their experiences, organizing, and advocating for their rights, further increasing their vulnerability (Ministère de la Communication et Médias RDC).

Suspension of USAID Aid in the DRC
The current outbreak of violence is unfolding amid the recent suspension of American aid, including from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has particularly heavy consequences for the DRC. In 2023, American aid to the DRC amounted to nearly one billion dollars, representing about 70% of the total aid received by the country. The sudden halt of this assistance has severely impacted humanitarian and development programs, especially in conflict-affected areas in the east. Vulnerable populations, including women and children, are the hardest hit by this suspension, which undermines efforts toward stabilization and reconstruction in the region.

Call to Action
SRH services are essential for crisis-affected populations, representing a fundamental right and a key survival factor for women and girls. Health infrastructures have been looted and destroyed; there is a shortage of essential supplies and trained personnel, and funding is limited, exacerbating the situation and restricting access to care. It is urgent to strengthen integrated SRH and GBV services to prevent maternal and perinatal over-mortality and morbidity. An integrated approach to SRH services within primary healthcare is necessary.

The international community must intensify its efforts to protect women and girls in eastern DRC. This includes strengthening security measures, improving access to healthcare services—especially for victims of sexual violence—and supporting local initiatives that promote women's rights and prevent violence.

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*Resources:
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Survey on Sexual Violence
Human Rights Watch on M23 Rebels' War Crimes
The new CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist highlights serious concerns regarding the exercise of civic freedoms in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Amnesty International on the Kishishe Massacre
The Calamitous Rape Crisis Unfolding in Congo's War
In the DRC, rape is rife. How can women recover in a war zone?
Aid Group Says Congo Had 25,000 Victims of Sexual Violence Last Year