Un urges donors to fill 46.7% funding gap in DRC’s 2026 humanitarian plan
DRC faces critical humanitarian funding shortfall as UN raises alarm
- Society
The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where nearly 27 million people—over a quarter of the population—are currently facing food insecurity. The UN’s top representative in the country has urgently called on international donors to close a 46.7% funding gap in the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan, which is only 53.3% funded.
UN warns of dire consequences as humanitarian funding stalls
James Swan, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for DRC and head of MONUSCO, addressed the UN Security Council this week, painting a grim picture of the ongoing conflict’s humanitarian toll in the eastern provinces. The crisis, now in its third year, continues to devastate communities, with millions displaced and basic services collapsing under the strain of insufficient funding.
The 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan, launched in January, aims to assist 7.3 million people in urgent need, requiring a total budget of $1.4 billion. Yet, with only 53.3% of the required funds secured, critical programs are being scaled back. Swan emphasized that without immediate additional funding, the situation will worsen, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
“The humanitarian crisis in DRC remains severe. Nearly 27 million people—over a quarter of the population—are food insecure. The 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan prioritizes 7.3 million people for urgent aid, backed by a $1.4 billion budget, currently funded at just 53.3%. I urge donors to release the remaining funds without delay to address the country’s most pressing needs.”
Impact of underfunding: a crisis exacerbated
The funding shortfall has already forced humanitarian agencies to make painful cuts. In 2025, over 1,000 nutrition centers were closed, leaving 390,000 children without access to life-saving treatment for severe acute malnutrition. An additional 1.5 million people lost access to primary healthcare due to closures, stockouts of essential medicines, and reduced epidemic prevention and response capacities. Food assistance targets have been slashed by up to 73%, leaving millions at risk of hunger and deprivation.
The situation is further compounded by ongoing violence in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where armed clashes continue despite diplomatic efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire. The UN has warned that without adequate funding, the humanitarian response in 2026 will be forced to prioritize only the most critical cases, leaving millions without the assistance they desperately need.
A call to action for international donors
The UN’s appeal underscores the urgent need for donors to fulfill their commitments. The 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan was designed to address the most pressing needs of a population grappling with one of the world’s most protracted and neglected humanitarian crises. Failure to secure the remaining funding risks reversing hard-won progress and deepening the suffering of millions of Congolese.
As Swan concluded, “The time to act is now. The lives of millions depend on it.”