The impact of the DRC crisis on families’ health

The setting for one of the worst-ever civil wars in African history, the DRC has shifted from national conflict in the late 1990s to a series of localised, region-specific conflicts over land, resources, and power. With over seven million internally displaced people (IDPs) currently seeking shelter in informal sites or with host communities, the DRC accounts for almost 10% of the global population of displaced people. 

A country of immense natural resources, 73.5% of the population lives on less than $2.15 a day, with 25.6 million affected by food insecurity. The country ranks 180th out of 193 countries in the Human Development Index 2024. 

In areas affected by conflict, essential community infrastructure (water, sanitation, schools, homes) has been destroyed, creating conditions for illness to spread and health needs to go untreated. The DRC has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with 876 deaths per 100,000 live births and one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world: the DRC accounts for 11% of all the estimated annual deaths in children under five in sub-Saharan Africa. Families can struggle to access appropriate healthcare for their children, which is not provided free of charge. 4.5 million children under the age of five require nutrition treatment, with one in two children under five affected by chronic malnutrition.  

Amid these conditions, three women from the DRC - Esperance, Bernadette, and Elisa - have been navigating motherhood, family, work and their futures. 

Mother-of-two Bernadette (22) is a farmer living in eastern DRC. She primarily farms cassava, maize and peanuts. For the past few years, she has been using some of her earnings to start a small business making and selling bread. According to Bernadette, her bakery business is “growing slowly but surely.”  

Recently, after her two-year-old son David contracted a fever, she noticed he was losing weight.  Bernadette took David to a clinic supported by Concern Worldwide under the UK government-funded EAST programme, where he was diagnosed as being severely malnourished. Following treatment, his weight has increased in three weeks from three to seven kilos.  

“When I arrived here, my child was in a very bad condition. He was not healthy, but I received support. The medical staff welcomed us. They provided Plumpy Nut food for him.” Bernadette says.  Plumpynut is a Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) designed to treat severe malnutrition. 

Bernadette says that after her second visit she started noticing a change in David’s weight “After my second visit, his weight started increasing. The baby is now energetic compared to how he was at the beginning.  I really thank the Concern staff and the health centre staff for their care. Because if it hadn't been for their intervention, I don't know what state my baby would be in and what I would do.” 

The Concern-supported clinic has a six-bed capacity and serves a population of almost 13,000 people. Each week, an average of 10-12 women give birth in the clinic. Concern’s support, funded by the FCDO, ensures women can deliver their babies free of charge, and that treatment and medication for pregnant mothers and children under five, as well as the provision of therapeutic food for malnourished children, are also free.  

Looking to the future, Bernadette is keen on her children pursuing education – something she missed out on. “I grew up in a family where my father and mother are farmers. They sent me to school, but I got pregnant. They wanted me to return to school, but I didn’t want to. I didn't have any reason for dropping out of school. Today, I’ve come to realise that school is very important. I have siblings who have gone further with their education. My younger brother finished secondary school, and now he's a teacher. And my sister achieved her secondary school certificate this year.” Following her stay at the medical centre, Bernadette is looking determined to study again, “I would like to be a nurse. I really like that profession.” 

Esperance (26) fled her home village in August 2024. She was heavily pregnant and unable to carry anything with her. She gave birth to her first child Patricia via caesarean section at a clinic supported by Première Urgence Internationale (PUI), a consortium partner within the UK government-funded EAST programme, led by Concern. Before giving birth, Esperance had two pre-natal consultations and received training sessions on signs of risks, breastfeeding and a delivery kit that consisted of clothes, a basin, soap and body lotion, fabric, nappies for the child and maternity pads.  

Speaking at a health centre, Esperance said, “When I received all these things, I was very happy. Everything was very important. But the most important thing is the way that I received delivery services free of charge. That is the most important assistance I received because I didn’t have any money. I didn’t have money for the delivery and finding money for a caesarean delivery is not easy.” 

Elisa (23) gave birth to her daughter Jolita at an EAST-supported health centre in Tanganyika Province. Prior to the birth, she had four prenatal consultations and check-ups.  

Elisa, who has been farming in the area with her husband for several years, has given birth to all of her children at the clinic. “The nurses and the medical staff treat us very well. When I saw my baby, I felt very happy because God had given me a newborn…When I arrived at the clinic, I was welcomed. The nurses told me that everything was okay. I was very happy when I heard my baby cry because when someone is pregnant, you're never sure if the baby will survive. So when I heard the baby cry, I felt very happy.” 

Elisa hopes baby Jolita will flourish through education: “My hope for my child is that when she grows up, she studies. Because if she studies, she'll be able to get a good job and take care of me.” 

Concern has been working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1994.Our programme includes livelihoods, WASH, protection, and health and nutrition programmes in North Kivu and Tanganyika provinces, working with local populations to develop resilience against conflict and climate-related shocks. With funding from the FCDO, ECHO, and Irish Aid, In 2024, Concern was able to reach over 630,000 people directly and nearly 575,000 indirectly through emergency and long term development work including food security, livelihoods, WASH and shelter.  

As a member of the Rapid Response Mechanism (SAFER consortium), as well as interventions with Irish Aid, Concern responds to rapid onset crises in the DRC by providing emergency relief to vulnerable people and communities. Other programmes allow Concern to respond to protracted needs in the sectors of WASH and shelter.  

Find out more about our response to the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo here. 

'And so, I fled: DRC - the crisis the world ignored', a new multimedia exhibition in Belfast organised by Concern Worldwide seeks to share the compelling stories of people displaced and directly impacted by the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The exhibition opens on Thursday 3 April and runs until Saturday 12 April in the Studio Gallery, Belfast Exposed, Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2FF. The gallery is open Tuesday–Saturday, 11am–5pm.

WARNING: The exhibition features themes of physical and sexual violence and is intended for a mature audience.