Humanitarian Access Severely Restricted as 78,500 Displaced People Face Multi-Sectoral

Kinshasa, February 19, 2026 - DRC - The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that humanitarian access remains severely limited in Bule and surrounding villages in the Djugu territory, where repeated armed clashes continue to disrupt civilian life.

Over 78,500 displaced persons, along with host communities, face urgent needs across multiple sectors, including food, education, water, sanitation, hygiene, and shelter, according to a rapid multi-sectoral assessment conducted by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in January 2026.

The report highlights that the use of school buildings as emergency shelters has left more than 60 schools non-functional since December 2025, depriving over 24,000 children of education.

Many displaced individuals have sought refuge in neighboring territories of Mahagi and Irumu, including the Plaine Savo displacement site, placing significant pressure on already limited social services. Since December 2025, approximately 37,000 displaced people from Djugu have arrived in the Logo, Rimba, and Kambala health zones in Mahagi, primarily hosted by local families.

Protection concerns are mounting, with reports of arbitrary arrests, illegal fines, thefts, and kidnappings. On January 21, at least ten children were abducted in the Rabu health area by members of an armed group.

The humanitarian crisis in Ituri is exacerbated by persistent insecurity, massive population displacement, epidemics such as measles and Mpox, and the impact of natural disasters. Armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the Convention for the People’s Revolution (CRP) led by Thomas Lubanga, continue to operate in the region. The ADF, active for nearly three decades and pledged to the Islamic State, has forced thousands to flee despite joint Congolese-Ugandan military operations.

OCHA warns that the combination of armed violence, intercommunal tensions, and displacement has created a protracted humanitarian crisis in Ituri, requiring urgent international and local support to meet the basic needs of affected populations.