In 2022, the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) documented a distressing pattern of violence and obstruction of healthcare in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This situation mirrored the previous year, with 125 incidents reported in 2022 compared to 127 in 2021. This ongoing violence against healthcare providers and facilities is exacerbating the already challenging humanitarian crisis in the region.
Among the troubling statistics, at least 50 health workers were kidnapped in 2022. Health supplies were routinely looted, and health centers were set ablaze, further crippling healthcare providers’ ability to maintain safe staffing levels and adequately stock essential medical supplies.
The escalation of violence in northeastern DRC, driven by groups like the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the resurgent March 23 Movement (M23), and local Mai-Mai militias, has taken a severe toll on health workers and facilities. Additionally, local Mai-Mai militias have been responsible for threats and violence, particularly affecting healthcare providers in Maniema, North and South Kivu, and Tanganyika provinces.
The response by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and police forces to combat the violence inflicted by armed groups has, at times, further disrupted healthcare access. The insecurity caused by these violent clashes has resulted in the closure of health facilities, drastically limiting the population’s access to vital medical care.
Incidents of violence were reported in eight out of the DRC’s 26 provinces, with nearly half of them occurring in North Kivu. The regions of South Kivu, Ituri, Maniema, and Tanganyika also experienced significant levels of violence against healthcare.
Most of the reported incidents affected the national health structure, with six directly impacting international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) or local non-governmental organizations (LNGOs). Four of these incidents occurred in South Kivu, and one directly affected the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Kasai.
Although the number of health worker killings decreased in 2022, dropping from 22 in 2021 to 10, the overall situation remains dire. The ongoing violence against healthcare in the DRC underscores the urgent need for increased efforts to protect healthcare providers and ensure uninterrupted access to healthcare services in the midst of conflict.
