Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Kinshasa/Nairobi/Geneva, 27 February – The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to escalate, with many facing displacement, food insecurity, and health risks. Over 21 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance across the country, according to the UN OCHA Humanitarian Response Plan 2025.In response, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC Red Cross) are calling for urgent international support to address these growing humanitarian needs.The 50 million Swiss francs IFRC wide Emergency Appeal initially launched to support 500,000 people in North and South Kivu is now being expanded to provide immediate life-saving assistance to recently displaced Congolese refugees in Burundi.As fighting continues to force people from their homes at an alarming rate in Eastern DRC, nearly 300,000 people have fled from displacement camps around North Kivu and into Burundi. The closure of the Goma and Kavumu airports is also making humanitarian access more difficult.There is an urgent need for food, safe water, shelter and other basic needs. Red Cross volunteers have also been mobilized to help protect the public from the serious health risks posed by unburied bodies in conflict areas and to ensure dignified burials for those who have lost their lives.“In just the last 12 months, the DRC Red Cross with support from IFRC reached up to 100,000 displaced persons and their host communities with lifesaving food assistance while more than 370,000 individuals received essential household items including psychosocial support. We are grateful to our volunteers who have not slept for weeks for their commitment to stop the suffering in North and South Kivu. Yet the humanitarian situation remains dire”, said Grégoire Mateso Mbuta, President of the DRC Red Cross. “We need urgent support to scale up our response and provide life-saving aid to those in need.”Mercy Laker, IFRC’s Head of Country Delegation in Kinshasa said: “The humanitarian crisis in DR Congo is reaching a breaking point, the IFRC Emergency Appeal remains critically underfunded. Millions are in desperate need of food, shelter, and medical aid. Urgent funding is needed to avoid worse outcomes. We urge donors to act now—every second, every minute, every hour counts.”The IFRC calls for all parties to the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law, ensuring safe access for humanitarian workers and the protection of civilians. Humanitarian workers need safe access to affected populations to provide essential aid.The IFRC urges governments, donors, and international partners to act swiftly to fund the Emergency Appeal to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.Notes for editors:Further details about the number of people reached by the DRC Red Cross are available in the latest update.For more information or to set up interview, please contact: media@ifrc.orgIn Nairobi: Susan Mbalu, +254 733 827 654In Dakar: Moustapha Diallo, +221 774501004In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa +41 79 708 43 67, Scott Craig: +41 76 370 35 75