UN Secretary-General Guterres Highlights Severe Humanitarian Crisis in the DRC

Paris, France - At the Great Lakes Peace Conference on October 30, 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres sounded the alarm over the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, describing it as one of the most severe globally.

Guterres reported that over 21 million Congolese require assistance, 5.7 million are displaced, and more than 27 million are experiencing food insecurity. He also warned that essential services are collapsing amid ongoing violence in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri.

While acknowledging recent diplomatic progress, including agreements brokered by the United States and Qatar, Guterres called on the international community to increase funding for the Humanitarian Response Plan and to support the immediate implementation of peace agreements, stressing the urgency of restoring stability and dignity to the Congolese people.