The World Food Programme increases assistance to displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On the 23rd local time, the World Food Program announced that it is expanding its assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo, providing aid to approximately 210,000 internally displaced persons in eastern Congo following recent violent conflicts. The World Food Program stated that although some food supplies have already been deployed in conflict areas, they urgently need $67 million to sustain the three-month aid operation. Since the conflict broke out in South Kivu province in early December, an estimated 500,000 people have been forced to leave their homes, and basic public services are on the verge of collapse. Medical facilities have been looted, there is a shortage of medicine, and schools remain closed. The affected communities are extremely vulnerable, lacking access to safe drinking water, medical services, and livelihoods. Education has been severely disrupted, with over 391,000 children out of school.