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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported on Wednesday that over 80% of healthcare facilities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) currently lack essential medications due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
The mineral-rich region has been plagued by violence for three decades, with fighting intensifying this year after the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group captured the key cities of Goma and Bukavu.
Clashes between M23, the Congolese army, and allied militias have left thousands dead and displaced millions since January.
A US-brokered peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda in June has yet to bring tangible improvements on the ground.
In September, the ICRC assessed 240 health centres and clinics in North and South Kivu provinces, finding that more than 85 per cent faced dwindling medication supplies and nearly 40 per cent struggled with staff shortages.
“This dire situation is the result of armed violence and the fact that many humanitarian organisations have had to halt their activities because of a lack of funding,” the ICRC said.
Many medical centres are overwhelmed with patients, including those crossing front lines, only to discover that essential medicines are unavailable.
Shortages affect critical treatments and supplies that are supposed to be free, including vaccines, antimalarial and tuberculosis medications, rape kits, and rapid HIV tests.
More than 70 per cent of the facilities had admitted patients wounded in the conflict since the start of the year. Delivering medicines across the front lines is difficult, exacerbating the crisis.
“Currently, more than 80 per cent of health facilities in the Kivu provinces receive no support from humanitarian partners and are only operational thanks to the remarkable commitment of their staff on both sides of the front lines,” said Francois Moreillon, head of the ICRC’s DRC delegation.
