Democratic Republic of the Congo: Belgium’s contribution through the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities (SFERA)

Abstract

For more than two decades, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s northeastern Ituri province has been facing a severe humanitarian crisis marked by violent attacks perpetrated by non-state armed groups, triggering massive population displacements. In addition, many communities are affected by natural hazards, such as floods, landslides and drought, exacerbating their vulnerabilities and leading to increased levels of food insecurity. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis (October 2024), over 1.5 million people in Ituri are acutely food insecure (IPC Phase 3 or above). Alarmingly, 61 percent of those in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) are internally displaced people, who previously relied on agriculture for household consumption and income. About 82 percent of displaced people reside with host families, putting additional pressure on them given already limited resources.The Government of the Kingdom of Belgium contributed USD 500 000, through the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities (SFERA), to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to provide vulnerable households with timely, lifesaving food production and livelihoods assistance in Ituri. This will help them meet their most immediate needs while creating the conditions to strengthen their resilience.