Humanitarian Action for Children 2023 - Democratic Republic of the Congo

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing one of the world’s most complex and protracted crises. More than 15 million children bear the brunt of an escalation in armed conflict and recurrent disease outbreaks. These exacerbate chronic poverty, systemic weaknesses and existing population vulnerability. Increased military operations are expected in 2023, alongside rising tensions in the run-up to general elections scheduled for December 2023.

• UNICEF is adopting a needs-based approach to respond to a multifaceted and intensifying humanitarian crisis, aiming to ensure that 75 per cent of children in need are assisted.
  To provide a holistic humanitarian response, UNICEF will continue to offer integrated, life-saving assistance while at the same time enhancing community resilience and social cohesion, to pave the way for longer-term interventions. A systematic approach to scaling up the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and gender-based violence prevention and response will be integrated within all programmatic interventions.

• UNICEF requires US$862.4 million to address the acute needs of children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2023. Timely, flexible and multi-year funding are essential in supporting UNICEF to reach the most vulnerable, crisis-affected children.