EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib Launches Humanitarian Mission in DRC Amid Escalating Crisis

Great Lakes Region, February 17, 2026 - The European Commissioner for Crisis Preparedness, Management, and Equality, Hadja Lahbib, has begun a humanitarian mission to the Great Lakes region, starting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The visit comes amid persistent violence in eastern DRC, fueled by the activities of Rwandan-backed ADF/M23 rebels, which has caused massive displacement across South Kivu and neighboring countries.

During her mission, Lahbib plans to meet all parties to the conflict to advocate for improved humanitarian access, ensure the opening of safe corridors, and maintain essential services, including health care, even in areas controlled by armed groups. She will also visit refugee camps, including the largest Congolese camp in Bujumbura, Burundi, which hosts over 70,000 people.

“I have just arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the first stop on my mission to the Great Lakes region. My absolute priority is to negotiate access and humanitarian deliveries. In the East, the situation is critical, with a dramatic humanitarian crisis. Lives must be saved,” Lahbib stated on her Twitter account.

The visit highlights a critical funding shortfall for humanitarian operations in DRC, forcing aid agencies to prioritize resources for only 7.3 million people out of nearly 15 million in urgent need. The European Union, alongside its member states, remains a key donor, providing emergency aid to save lives, prevent suffering, and preserve dignity in areas affected by conflict or disaster.

This humanitarian mission follows government-led efforts by Minister of State Ève Bazaiba Masudi, who recently visited Burundi and Tanzania to support Congolese refugees, coordinate aid, and assess conditions in collaboration with UNHCR and other partners. Lahbib’s mission underscores the urgency of international solidarity to address one of the world’s longest-running and most neglected humanitarian crises, exacerbated by continued rebel activity and recent territorial gains by AFC/M23 in Uvira and surrounding towns.