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[Paris, October 27, 2025] SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL welcomes France’s initiative to host, on Thursday, October 30, an International Conference on Peace and Prosperity in the Great Lakes. This meeting is crucial to place the humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) back at the forefront of international priorities and to mobilize the essential funding required to respond effectively.
Since the beginning of 2025, the resurgence of hostilities has worsened an already severe crisis. The capture of Goma and Bukavu by M23 (March 23 Movement) forces, along with escalating violence in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, has deepened insecurity and severely restricted humanitarian access. Over 2.1 million additional people, including one million children, have been displaced since January, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons to more than 5.7 million¹.
“The cycle of destruction and reconstruction perpetuates chronic vulnerability, undermines community resilience, and wastes scarce resources, laments Justine Muzik Piquemal, Regional Director at SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL. Water and sanitation infrastructures repaired in 2024 have been destroyed again following targeted attacks — an intolerable situation that is fueling a rise in cholera cases.”
In the face of this alarming situation, a coordinated response is more urgent than ever to protect civilians trapped in the conflict. The peace agreements signed in June and July 2025 between the DRC, Rwanda, and M23 are encouraging, but they must lead to real de-escalation. The Paris Conference must result in concrete commitments commensurate with the massive gaps observed in the field. Currently, the situation does not allow the affected populations to meet even the minimum humanitarian standards required to satisfy their basic needs.
Across eastern DRC, needs are overwhelming, while the humanitarian community remains critically underfunded. As of October 15, 2025, only 16% of the $2.5 billion Humanitarian Response Plan has been financed² – a historically low threshold and far from the 53% funding level achieved at the end of 2024 – even though more than 21.2 million people need assistance.
“The devastating scale of the ongoing conflict demands a reinforced and unified humanitarian and diplomatic front to lay the foundations for sustainable recovery,” urges Kevin Goldberg, CEO of the NGO.
In light of this deeply concerning context, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL calls for:
- Increased and better-targeted humanitarian funding based on the actual needs and vulnerabilities of populations, particularly in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu;
- Protection of civilians and essential infrastructures;
- Strengthened response to waterborne diseases, including cholera;
- Guaranteed unhindered humanitarian access;
- Protection of humanitarian personnel and respect for humanitarian principles through enhanced dialogue with relevant authorities.
Present in the DRC for 25 years, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is a key actor in the country’s humanitarian response. On the ground, its teams work tirelessly to improve living conditions for vulnerable communities and safeguard their means of survival.
² République Démocratique du Congo Plan de Réponse Humanitaire 2025 | Humanitarian Action
Spokespersons available:
- Justine Muzik Piquemal, Regional Director for the DRC (based in France)
- Federica Badocco, Country Director in the DRC (based in-country)
Press Contact
Claire MORAND / +33 (0)7 85 42 56 99
cmorand@solidarites.org Or presse@solidarites.org
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