Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Famine Early Warning System Network Please refer to the attached file. Key Messages Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes, with a low proportion of households in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), persist in the eastern provinces , primarily affecting poor and displaced households. Armed conflicts involving multiple local and foreign actors are driving significant population displacement. These dynamics limit household access to arable land and income-generating activities, such as artisanal mining, fishing, and petty trade. Due to the reduction in cultivated areas following displacement and low access to inputs, Season 2 (S2) harvests between December and February are expected to be below average. In 2025, more than 2.68 million people were newly displaced in DRC, bringing the total to approximately 5.3 million displaced persons . Crisis (IPC Phase 3) acute food insecurity could persist through September 2026 in flooded areas, particularly in the central basin zones and in lowlands. Household production is depleted, and incomes are too low to meet household needs on the market following damage related to the overflow of rivers and lakes, affecting road infrastructure and population livelihoods. FEWS NET estimates that approximately 16-16.99 million people will be in need of food assistance, with peak needs expected between August and September 2026 . Needs will remain high throughout the country even after the harvests, particularly for displaced populations, returnees, refugees, and households that are unable to meet their food needs without resorting to negative coping strategies. Starting in March, the depletion of food stocks among poor and very poor households will increase their dependence on assistance. The analysis in this report is based on information available as of February 20, 2026.
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