The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is projected to see acute food insecurity affect 30.3 million people in early 2027, as conflict, disease and climate shocks strain access to food.
A new alert from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global food-security monitor, gives that forecast for January through June 2027. It projects 4.2 million people will face Phase 4, the emergency level. The system has five phases; Phase 5 is classified as Catastrophe for households and Famine for areas.
North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri have the largest provincial burden, with 10.4 million people in those provinces at Phase 3 or worse. Four territories—Djugu, Fizi, Shabunda and Walungu—are classified at Phase 4. The alert identifies displaced people, returnees, refugees and poor households as among those most affected.
The IPC links conflict and violence in eastern DRC to displacement and interrupted livelihoods, as well as reduced access to food and markets. Ebola and other disease outbreaks, higher food and fuel prices, floods and other climate shocks are adding pressure. EconoTimes previously reported on the Ebola outbreak’s spread and contact-follow-up challenges.
For comparison, about 28.8 million people, or 23% of the population analyzed, are forecast to face Phase 3 or higher through December 2026. More than 3.6 million people, or 3%, are facing Phase 4. The IPC reports little change in the national share from its previous analysis, while describing sharper deterioration in northeastern and eastern provinces.
The IPC expects food security to worsen slightly in the first half of 2027, citing continued conflict and displacement and Ebola’s spread. It says El Niño could bring flooding that disrupts farming and market access. Higher prices for food, fuel and agricultural inputs, along with declining humanitarian assistance, are also factors in the outlook.
