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Geneva, November 07 (QNA) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning about the worsening hunger crisis in eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, citing a critical funding gap that could lead to a complete halt in food assistance by February or March 2026. In a statement released Friday, WFP stressed the urgent need for USD 349 million to sustain humanitarian operations over the next six months. Without this funding, the agency may be forced to implement further cuts or suspend its supply chain entirely in the region. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, WFP's Country Director in DR Congo Cynthia Jones revealed that the number of people facing emergency levels of hunger has nearly doubled compared to last year, reaching 3 million out of more than 10 million affected across North and South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika provinces. Jones highlighted the scale of displacement, noting that 5.2 million people are currently displaced, including 1.6 million this year alone, making eastern Congo one of the largest displacement crises globally. Families are grappling with collapsing markets and disrupted access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and banking. Despite these challenges, WFP has reached over 3.4 million vulnerable individuals this year with emergency food assistance, both cash and in-kind, and supported nearly one million children and mothers through nutrition programs. However, due to funding shortages, the agency was forced to reduce its monthly support to 600,000 people as of October, down from over one million. Jones said children, women, and men suffering daily from extreme violence need peace and support, adding that they are doing everything they can to reach as many people as possible and call on donors and partners to step up and help save lives. WFP also urged the international community to improve humanitarian access, including reopening Goma and Bukavu airports or establishing a humanitarian air bridge to ensure aid reaches those in need. (QNA)
