Goma (DRC) Acute Crisis Joint Response

The recent peak of violence in January 2025 caused by M23 conflict in Goma has displaced 700,000 people, with 43,500 new displacements between 6 and 25 January (UNHCR, 30 January 2025). This brings the total number of displaced people nationwide to 6.4 million, including 2.9 million in 2024 (IOM).

The capture of Goma on 24 January has exacerbated the crisis, destroying infrastructure, limiting services and increasing overcrowding. Women and girls are at increased risk of Gender Based Violence (GBV), while access to water, electricity, food and markets remains critically low (UNHCR, 30 January 2025). Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene services are severely strained, with critical water shortages and high risks of cholera, Mpox and measles (OCHA, 3 February 2025; UNICEF, 31 January 2025). Many residents rely on Lake Kivu for water or queue at the Plage du Peuple station (UNICEF, 2025).

Overcrowded sites for displaced people (schools, churches and informal settlements) and damaged infrastructure exacerbate conditions, leaving thousands without clean water or sanitation. UNICEF and OCHA report increased open defecation, poor waste management and increased risk of cholera, particularly affecting children, pregnant women and the elderly. Women and girls remain vulnerable to GBV due to inadequate sanitation. Humanitarian gaps persist. NGO warehouses have been looted, camp water systems destroyed, and boreholes insufficient to meet demand. Soap, water treatment and menstrual hygiene products remain critically lacking. UNICEF (1 February 2025) calls for urgent WASH interventions. Despite a cease-fire the overall security situation remains fragile, which might hinder acute humanitarian interventions in the coming weeks and months.

The Joint Response

Activities carried out under this Joint Response are the following:

• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Provision of clean water, improved sanitation structures, hygiene kits and benefit from hygiene awareness sessions. National and Sub-National WASH Cluster standards will be adhered to.
• Health: Primary healthcare will be provided in Health zone Karisimbi through free outpatient consultations for IDPs and host community. Services include childhood disease control (malaria, diarrhea, ARI, measles), referrals, emergency reproductive health, treatment after sexual violence, maternal and newborn health care.
• Food Security (FSL): Food distribution will be provided in Sake (Kirotshe HZ) for 4200 people. Each distribution will follow the FSL cluster guidelines for the Standard full ration per person per day for 30 days.
• Multi-Purpose Cash (MPC): With cash modalities this joint response is addressing the most pressing food and NFI gaps and needs while one Member is providing cash to cover protection needs. MPC will be unrestricted, allowing households the flexibility to use the cash for meeting other basic needs beyond food.
• Protection: The joint response includes protection mainstreaming throughout their programming. To make this visible, most have included them also as a separate sector in order to report on the activities conducted. Protection concerns are critical, particularly for women and children vulnerable to GBV and human trafficking, necessitating safe spaces, psychological support, and family reunification mechanisms for unaccompanied children.

These interventions aim to support a total of 114,941 individuals, with a specific focus on vulnerable groups such as children, women, persons with disabilities, and displaced families in need. The response is designed to meet the immediate needs while considering gender-sensitive approaches to ensure the most effective support for all affected populations.

Photo: Gad Muweza/Tearfund