AECID contributes one million euros to the humanitarian emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Eduardo González The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) is going to contribute one million euros to address the humanitarian emergency in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a result of the intensification of the armed conflict. With this contribution, AECID is responding to the call made by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to address the basic needs of the population, including those displaced by the offensive launched in recent weeks by the March 23 Movement (M23). For almost two years, the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, specifically the province of North Kivu, “has been facing a devastating conflict that has intensified and become increasingly complex over time,” AECID highlighted in a press release. This humanitarian crisis is characterized by the presence of a multitude of armed actors in conflict, a large displaced population and an even larger population in need of humanitarian aid. In total, 1.6 million people have been displaced since the beginning of this crisis in March 2022, according to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The objective of the IFRC appeal, to which Spain contributes one million euros, is to cover basic needs in the sectors of health, water, sanitation and hygiene and protection, gender and inclusion, for an initial population of 500,000 people. On 18 January, the M23, backed by the Rwandan Armed Forces, launched a military operation to expand its territory, violating a ceasefire agreement signed by Rwanda and the DRC as part of the Luanda Peace Process. On 21 January, the M23 announced the capture of several towns, including Minova in South Kivu province, and on 24 January, intense fighting was reported between the M23, the DRC Armed Forces and UN forces (MONUSCO). The UN Security Council met on 26 January to assess the situation in North Kivu, and the following day, M23 declared that it had taken control of Goma, the third-largest city in the DRC and capital of North Kivu province with nearly two million inhabitants, despite UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling on Rwanda to withdraw its troops from the DRC and stop supporting the armed group. Humanitarian organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières have reported the displacement of more than 400,000 people in January due to the ongoing conflict in the region. Many sought refuge in and around Goma when the city was already hosting more than 600,000 displaced people. Spanish Cooperation has been present in the DRC since the beginning of the century and had a Technical Cooperation Office (TCO) since 2010, but the TCO was cancelled in April 2013 as a result of the new Master Plan for Cooperation, in which the DRC lost its status as a priority country. Despite this, the AECID has activated several emergency agreements in recent years to respond to the fight against the Ebola epidemic and provide humanitarian assistance.

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