DRC: urgent appeal for US$1.4 billion to meet humanitarian needs

Kinshasa, January 28^th, 2026 (CPA).- An urgent appeal for US$1.4 billion to meet humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been launched in Kinshasa on Wednesday during the launching ceremony for the ‘2026 Humanitarian Needs Overview and Response Plan’. « DRC government and the humanitarian community in the country are launching an urgent appeal for £1.4 billion to meet humanitarian needs in the country in 2026. These resources are essential to help millions of Congolese people trapped in one of the most prolonged and neglected humanitarian crises, » has declared Bruno Lemarquis, humanitarian coordinator in DRC. According to Mr Lemarquis, without sufficient funding, the humanitarian response in 2026 will be refocused on 7.3 million people, out of nearly 15 million in vital need of assistance and protection. « This targeting, which is more limited than in 2025 (11 million people targeted), reflects a strict prioritisation in favour of populations facing the most immediate threats to their survival. This is a drastic reduction, which affects efforts to help those facing the most immediate threats, » he has indicated. The humanitarian needs overview and response plan are launched each year. For 2025, it has been launched in February and aims to raise $2.54 billion to assist 11 million of the most vulnerable people. This day was attended by Congolese authorities, namely: Eve Bazaïba, Minister in charge of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and National Solidarity, and Raissa Malu, Minister in charge of National Education and New Citizenship. ACP/