Food Insecurity in DRC: Conflicts and Climate Impact

Food Insecurity in the DRC: A Comedy of Errors

(Agence Ecofin) – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been thrown into a chaotic mix reminiscent of a poorly planned sitcom plot. Here we have persistent conflicts ruling the roost, while just offstage, extreme climatic phenomena are waiting to make their surprise guest appearance. It’s like having a dramatic soap opera overlap with a nature documentary—who thought that would end well?

Apparently, around 25.6 million people in the DRC—let’s call them the “starving audience”—will face acute food insecurity by December 2024. This shocking revelation comes courtesy of the Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC), published on October 28. So, what’s the latest plot twist? Less food and more conflict. It’s the kind of cliffhanger that leaves you clutching your popcorn!

Conflict: The Main Culprit

The FAO, like your disheartened friend who always sees the glass half empty, points the finger primarily at the persistent conflicts. Particularly in the eastern provinces such as North Kivu and Ituri—where rural liveliness has been replaced with rural grievances—these conflicts are disrupting agricultural lives quicker than a bad review on a dinner date!

Last year’s data paints a grim picture: a whopping 25% of livestock has faced unfortunate demise, and 35% of households are running on reduced agricultural areas. It’s like a backyard BBQ where half the guests suddenly decide to skip the food. Unpleasant, to say the least!

Food Security: The Perfect Storm

“Armed violence and competition for resources have wreaked havoc on rural livelihoods,” explains Rein Paulsen from the FAO Office of Emergencies. A bit dramatic, don’t you think? But he has a point. Even the slightest hiccup—be it a surge in food prices or a bad harvest—might send folks tumbling over the edge into an unforgiving pit of hunger. If this were a sitcom, you’d be shouting “Don’t open that door!” at the screen.

Flooding: The Uninvited Alex Reed

As if the plot needed more chaos, flooding has also decided to crash the party. Between July and September 2024, nearly 5.4 million hectares of land were submerged, including over 17,000 hectares of agricultural territory. And while we’re waiting for the food loss assessment, one thing’s for sure: this storm’s not invited, and it’s definitely making things worse!

Across the border in Nigeria, they’re having their own flooding fiasco. With 2.5 million hectares of cultivated land under water, you might say they’re competing for a ‘worst harvest’ award. Spoiler alert: it’s going to be a tie.

A Call to Action

So what can be done? Well, raising awareness and pulling together resources will be crucial if the DRC wants to turn this grim situation around. Because, let’s face it, nobody wants to see millions of people starving in the middle of what should be a melodrama.

As we navigate through this absurd comedy of errors, let’s hope the DRC gets a script rewrite. It’s high time for a happy ending!

Stéphanas Assocle

Also read:

• 16/10/2024 – The world celebrates World Food Day, but it is not time for celebration in Africa
• 10/21/2024 – Central and West Africa: $70 million to mitigate the impacts of flooding (FAO)

(Agence Ecofin) – In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), ongoing conflicts are recognized as the primary contributors to widespread food insecurity. Additionally, the influence of extreme weather patterns adds another layer of complexity to the situation.

According to the recently released analysis by the Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) on October 28, it is projected that by December 2024, approximately 25.6 million individuals—equivalent to 22% of the nation’s population—will be grappling with acute food insecurity in the DRC.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) attributes these dire projections to the escalating effects of ongoing conflicts that severely undermine agricultural livelihoods, particularly in the eastern regions of the country, encompassing the provinces of North Kivu, Ituri, South Kivu, Tanganyika, and Mai-Ndombe.

Recent data from the FAO indicates a troubling trend: a stark 25% of livestock breeders reported significant animal losses compared to last year, while 35% of households have reduced their agricultural area due to pervasive insecurity.

“Armed violence and competition for resources have caused enormous damage to rural livelihoods and infrastructure, disrupting essential agricultural production. Given the scale of this crisis, even a slight shock, such as a rise in food prices or a poor harvest, could push even more people to the brink,” explains Rein Paulsen, Director of the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience.

A situation that could worsen with flooding

While the FAO emphasizes that insecurity rooted in persistent conflicts is at the heart of the alarming food security crisis in the DRC, other adverse factors—including recent flooding—must also be acknowledged.

Data from the FAO shows that between July and September 2024, nearly 5.4 million hectares in the DRC were flooded, impacting over 17,000 hectares of cultivated agricultural land. Although the extent of food losses due to these floods has yet to be assessed, the repercussions could gravely undermine the nation’s capacity to achieve food security.

In a parallel situation, Nigeria faced flooding that affected almost 2.5 million hectares of agricultural land within the same timeframe. The FAO estimates indicate that this has resulted in more than 800,000 tonnes of food loss.

Stéphanas Assocle

Also read:

16/10/2024 – The world celebrates World Food Day but it is not time for celebration in Africa

10/21/2024 – Central and West Africa: $70 million to mitigate the impacts of flooding (FAO)