United nations presses donors to close dr Congo humanitarian funding gap

The escalating humanitarian crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to be a profound concern for the United Nations. Addressing the Security Council on Friday, June 26, 2026, James Swan, the UN Special Representative for the DRC and head of MONUSCO, presented a stark assessment of the human cost of the ongoing conflict in the country’s eastern provinces.

Swan highlighted that millions of Congolese citizens remain severely affected by the crisis. This dire situation is exacerbated by a significant reduction in international humanitarian funding. He revealed that the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan, initially launched in January, has only secured 53.3% of its required funding. Swan urgently called upon international partners to mobilize the outstanding resources to meet the ever-growing humanitarian needs across the DRC.

“The humanitarian crisis in the DRC remains critical. Nearly 27 million people, representing over a quarter of the population, are grappling with severe food insecurity. The 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan prioritizes emergency assistance for 7.3 million individuals, requiring a budget of $1.4 billion, which is currently only 53.3% funded. I extend my gratitude to the generous donors and implore them to release the full amount necessary to address the pressing needs of the DRC,” stated James Swan, head of MONUSCO.

These latest warnings from MONUSCO come as intense fighting persists across various localities and territories within North Kivu and South Kivu in Eastern DRC. Humanitarian needs in these regions are relentlessly surging despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire and implementing existing peace agreements.

Confronted by a severe funding shortfall, the humanitarian community in the Democratic Republic of Congo is compelled to implement strict prioritization for its 2026 response. It was within this challenging framework that the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its humanitarian partners jointly issued an urgent appeal on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in Kinshasa, seeking $1.4 billion to address the nation’s humanitarian requirements for the year.

Both parties emphasized that these funds are absolutely essential to assist millions of Congolese men, women, and children trapped in one of the world’s most protracted and overlooked humanitarian crises. Without adequate financial backing, the 2026 humanitarian response will have to narrow its focus to just 7.3 million people, out of nearly 15 million who are in critical need of assistance and protection.

The year 2025 already provided a stark illustration of the devastating consequences of underfunding. For instance, throughout that year, reduced operational capacities led to the closure of over 1,000 nutrition centers, leaving more than 390,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition without vital care. Approximately 1.5 million individuals lost access to essential primary healthcare due to facility closures, critical medicine shortages, and a diminished capacity to prevent and respond to epidemics. Monthly food assistance targets were slashed by up to 73%, further exposing the most vulnerable populations to heightened risks of hunger and deprivation.