DRC: Officials warn of food insecurity in Ituri province

Event

The ongoing instability in Ituri province has officials concerned about an impending food crisis in the region. In Djugu, the “bread basket” of the region, recurrent security concerns have caused inhabitants to flee. According to officials, 75 percent of production in 2017 was not harvested and no planting was undertaken for 2018, greatly reducing food availability. Prices for food in the region have already skyrocketed with individuals complaining they no longer have the means to feed their families. Should displaced people begin to return home, the crisis is likely to worsen.

Context

The government's limited role in the eastern provinces (including in Ituri province), as well as the presence of numerous armed groups and local self-defense militias, have fomented continued insecurity in the area.

Violence between the Hema and the Lendu communities has increased in northeastern DRC in recent months, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Acts of violence frequently target women and children. A primary source of conflict between the two groups is land disputes; traditionally, the Lendu are settled farmers, and the Hema are pastoralists.

Advice

Individuals in Ituri province and elsewhere in northeastern DRC are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all gatherings due to the potential for violence, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.