Ebola and insecurity worsen food crisis in eastern DRC
A UN food agency report shows the combined health and security crises have severely impacted agriculture and livelihoods.
The Ebola epidemic and ongoing insecurity have severely worsened food security and agricultural livelihoods in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. A September 2026 study by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), whose report was reviewed on November 11, concluded that health restrictions, market disruptions, and travel difficulties intensified an already precarious situation.
The DIEM-Impact assessment, based on interviews with 224 informants, found that the Ebola outbreak amplified the effects of years of armed conflict. In August 2026, the Bundibugyo strain spread rapidly, reaching nearly 500 new cases weekly, primarily in Ituri and North Kivu. North Kivu is particularly affected, facing both the epidemic and insecurity, with 1.9 million people needing aid even before the disease appeared. Between January 2024 and March 2026, insecurity reduced access to farmland and increased cattle theft from 15% to 28%.
The FAO recommends strengthening emergency humanitarian aid while supporting upcoming agricultural campaigns. The agency advocates for priority support to farming and livestock activities in vulnerable territories like Irumu and Aru in Ituri, Masisi and Rutshuru in North Kivu, and Kalehe in South Kivu. The cost of living has also risen sharply in Bunia, Bukavu, and Goma due to trade barriers and increased transport costs.
Why it mattersEastern DRC residents face worsening food insecurity and livelihood challenges due to the Ebola epidemic and persistent insecurity.