Ebola and conflict compound hardships in eastern democratic republic of Congo

Families across eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) face an unrelenting crisis, as the Ebola outbreak intersects with long-standing armed violence. The result? Dwindling access to farmland, shuttered markets, and collapsing household incomes, leaving millions in a precarious struggle for survival.

Humanitarian aid struggles amid overlapping crises

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has resumed emergency food and seed distributions, reaching over 80,000 people despite severe logistical challenges. But delivering aid in this environment raises a stark question: how can assistance reach those forced to choose between the threat of disease and the certainty of hunger?

Ebola deepens food insecurity in conflict zones

Conflict has already destabilized life in eastern DRC for years, displacing communities and disrupting livelihoods. The arrival of Ebola has only intensified these hardships. Movement restrictions and market closures—measures essential to controlling the outbreak—further erode people’s ability to earn a living or feed their families. The most vulnerable bear the brunt of this dual burden, with their coping strategies rapidly exhausted.

Restricted access fuels agricultural decline

Many households can no longer reach their fields, narrowing agricultural activity to safer—but overworked—surrounding areas. This intensifies land degradation and threatens long-term food production. Agricultural support services, already weakened by violence, are now even less accessible to displaced farmers. In border regions, closed crossings disrupt trade flows that once sustained local economies, cutting off vital income sources and supplies.

With resilience at a breaking point, urgent action is needed to protect both lives and livelihoods in eastern DRC—before the situation deteriorates further.