Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
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UNICEF's Level 3 emergency response in eastern DRC faces critical funding shortfalls, of the US$56.9 million required for the for an initial three-month response, US$17.9 million has been received– leaving a US$39.05 million gap.
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Upsurge of conflict in Djugu, Irumu and Mambasa territories in Ituri province leaves approximately 100, 000 persons displaced and 200 dead (OCHA).
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Following capture of Walikale territory in North Kivu province by M23 on 19 March 20251 , over 75,000 people have fled from Walikale to neighboring Maniema and Tshopo provinces (OCHA).
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UNICEF Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) interventions have reached 802,000 people with portable water 34,685 people with key hygiene promotion messages, 1,596 WASH kits distributed: 36 latrines and 20 bath shelters under construction.
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16-31 March 2025, 908 cases (over 50% among children) of mpox were notified in South Kivu province, of which 749 received treatment with the support of UNICEF
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
400,000 Children in need of humanitarian assistance
1,000,000 People in need of humanitarian assistance
FUNDING OVERVIEW AND PARTNERSHIPS
UNICEF's Level 3 emergency response in eastern DRC faces critical funding shortfalls, with only US$17.9 million received to date against a total requirement of US$56.9 million for an initial three month response leaving a 69 per cent gap amounting to US$39.05 million.
Despite generous contributions from key donors including CERF, ECHO, FCDO, Germany, and SIDA, UNICEF USA and the German National Committee as well as through UNICEF’s Global Humanitarian Thematic Funds (GHTF) allocations, the response remains severely under-funded across nearly all sectors. Life-saving interventions in Nutrition (80 per cent gap), Child Protection (81 per cent gap), and Multipurpose Cash Assistance (86 per cent gap) are among the hardest hit. Health (77 per cent gap) and Education (74 per cent gap) are similarly constrained, denying thousands of children access to essential services. Even WASH, vital for disease prevention, faces a 29 per cent funding gap, while UniRR (UNICEF’s flagship Rapid Response Mechanism) is 66 per cent underfunded.
Looking ahead, anticipated reductions in Official Development Assistance in 2025 threaten to further erode our already limited capacity whether it is in terms of funding, programmes, staffing, supplies, operational capacity or implementing partners. Now more than ever, flexible and sustained funding – such as Sweden and the UK’s contributions is urgently needed to ensure rapid, effective and agile humanitarian response in eastern DRC.