-
Current People in Need1.5 million
-
Current People Targeted1.5 million
-
Current Requirements (US$)605 million
Analysis of the context, crisis and needs
Wracked by decades of conflict, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most complex and long-standing humanitarian crises in Africa. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with violent intersecting conflicts forcing people to flee their homes. This has resulted in tragic loss of life, widespread gender-based violence (GBV), particularly against women and girls, protection risks for the most vulnerable people, and the destruction of communities. The situation is exacerbated by disease outbreaks and climate-induced disasters. As of July 2022, some 5.5 million people were displaced within the country, and 1 million refugees from the DRC had sought asylum, mostly in Africa, with the majority hosted in Angola, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia.
In 2023, newly displaced refugees and asylum-seekers from the DRC will require urgent protection and basic assistance, while those in long-term situations – many having been hosted in their asylum countries for decades – will remain in need of durable solutions and humanitarian support.
In many host countries, refugee settlements and camps have reached or exceeded capacity; the available basic services are stretched to their limits, including those for affected members of host communities. Food insecurity remains a growing concern, with prices of basic necessities rising due to the impacts of the conflict in Ukraine. As a result of these challenges, refugees and host communities struggle to afford food and basic services. The situation is worsened by the food ration reductions in camps and settlements due to funding challenges, causing refugees to resort to harmful coping strategies.
Incidents of discrimination in refugee-hosting countries are continuously reported. This highlights the need to intensify work on social cohesion and peaceful coexistence, improve accountability, address prejudice, and include refugees and host communities in decision-making.
Tanzania
Congolese refugee students at the Nyarugusu refugee camp await the start of their final exams after missing the 2021 exam cycle.
UNHCR/Maimuna MtengelaProjected situation in 2023 and beyond
Within this fragile socio-economic context, severe food insecurity, continuous instability characterized by serious threats from armed groups, intercommunal violence, development challenges, as well as unpredictability around the upcoming elections in the DRC scheduled in 2023, the underlying drivers of displacement in the DRC are expected to persist in 2023, with continued outflows of refugees from the DRC in neighboring countries.
Throughout 2023, most refugees from the DRC are expected to remain in their countries of asylum. Prospects for voluntary repatriation have improved, with limited numbers of refugees returning home in 2022 – a total of 6,786 (refugees from Haut-Katanga and Tanganyika Provinces living in Zambia, and those from Kasai region living in Angola). It is anticipated that a similarly low number will voluntarily repatriate in 2023, mainly from Angola, Republic of the Congo and Zambia, if conditions allow for a safe and dignified return. Resettlement remains a limited option due to the lack of available spaces. Therefore, local socioeconomic integration prevails as the most appropriate solution for most Congolese refugees.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Regional
Host countries have demonstrated commitment to maintaining open borders for asylum-seekers, and refugees from the DRC are expected to continue benefiting from international protection in 2023. Some host countries – Uganda being a key example – have adopted policies allowing refugees’ freedom of movement and the right to work (right to establish a business, own property and access national services, enhancing their opportunities to engage in the local economy). Other countries have pledged to strengthen asylum and enhance refugee protection and solutions. These enabling environments promote resilience and increased self-reliance.
In contrast, other host countries continue to impose restrictions on freedom of movement and the right to work, land and property rights, and access to education and justice. The DRC Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) partners will continue to advocate for these restrictions to be lifted, and for the adoption of policies in the spirit of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) that mirror good practices in the region, such as the commitments by the Southern African Development Community to improve refugee protection.
Uganda
Sarah Mukamana, 40, came to Uganda from the Congolese border town of Bunagana with her husband and seven children. She explained: “One of our children is sick, so we will wait for her to get better. Then we go back, because we left our things in the house.”
UNHCR/Esther Ruth MbabaziStrategic objectives and sectoral priorities
In the spirit of the GCR and in line with the Refugee Coordination Model, host governments will provide protection and assistance to refugees and ensure a comprehensive refugee response with the support of 68 DRC Regional RRP partners. The RRP will complement the host governments’ responses by providing protection, multisectoral assistance, self-reliance and social cohesion activities, and durable solutions for more than 1.5 million people, including close to 911,000 refugees from the DRC and 585,000 people in host communities. Led by UNHCR, the 2023 DRC Regional RRP has an inter-agency financial requirement of US$639 million for activities in Angola, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia.
Lôvua settlement, Angola
Refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo sell food at the market.
UNHCR/Lina FerreiraMore specifically, Regional RRP partners will engage with governments to maintain equal and unhindered access to asylum and international protection while promoting full enjoyment of rights. Partners will ensure attention is paid to age, gender and diversity considerations, accountability to affected people, and prevention for sexual exploitation and abuse. Emergency assistance will be provided for new arrivals, while access to basic services for long-term populations in need will be ensured. Where possible, responses will be anchored in national systems, development plans, multi-year strategies and regional frameworks. Partners will also seek to promote refugees’ and vulnerable host communities’ economic self-reliance to reduce dependency on humanitarian assistance, and to promote socioeconomic inclusion and access to rights in line with national development plans. Social cohesion and peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities will be encouraged through self-reliance and resilience programmes, with particular focus on youth and women-led initiatives and empowerment. Lastly, policies and conditions that facilitate durable solutions will be promoted through voluntary repatriation for refugees wishing to return home, resettlement for those who qualify, and local integration for those who lack the prospect of return. While a regional approach is pursued, the exact scale and scope of activities towards durable solutions may vary according to the context of each country response plan.