In a recent report published on Thursday, February 20th, by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (OCHA) in collaboration with humanitarian partners, a grim reality unfolds. The report sheds light on the ongoing deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Ituri province. From December 11, 2024, to January 31, 2025, over 17,000 cases of human rights violations and abuses have been documented in 2024 due to the insecurity stemming from persistent attacks by armed groups.
The Protection Cluster in Ituri documented over 17,400 cases of human rights violations and abuses throughout 2024 in the five territories of Ituri and Faradje territory in the Haut-Uélé province. Shockingly, at least 51% of these violations pertain to the right to property, 19% to the right to life and physical integrity, 18% to violations of the right to freedom, and 11% to gender-based violence (GBV), among others. These violations have left more than 18,250 victims, including returnees (51%), displaced individuals (24%), and host populations (20%). Djugu territory stands out as the most affected, with 42% of recorded violations.
As the report delves into the challenges faced by affected populations, the urgent need for humanitarian assistance for over 200,000 individuals forced to flee due to ongoing violence in the Ituri region becomes apparent. The report also highlights the disruption of activities by several humanitarian organizations in Ituri, heavily reliant on Goma for logistics, due to the deteriorating security situation in North Kivu.
### Humanitarian Needs and Challenges
The situation in the Irumu territory along the Komanda-Luna axis is particularly dire, with 52 individuals killed in ADF attacks between December 11, 2024, and January 30, 2025. On January 30th, a series of attacks attributed to presumed armed ADF men left at least 28 civilians dead in four villages in the Samboko and Ndalya health areas, according to local sources. These attacks triggered population displacements to nearby stable areas, though exact estimates remain unavailable. Earlier, on January 21st and 22nd, presumed armed ADF elements killed seven civilians in the Ndimo and Idohu health areas. Between December 11th and 30th, 2024, 17 civilians, including women and children, lost their lives in armed violence and ambushes by suspected ADF members in various localities like Landa, Katanga, and Mafifi.
### Impact on Djugu and Mambasa Territories
Meanwhile, Djugu and Mambasa territories bear the brunt of non-state armed group activities. The Convention for the Respect of Human Rights (CRDH), a human rights defense organization, has documented at least 1,322 individuals killed and over 300 missing persons in the Mambasa territory throughout 2024. In Djugu territory, local sources report that over 13,000 residents of the Bhali locality (Rethy health zone) have been forced to flee to the forest and surrounding villages since January 13th due to clashes between two factions of an armed group. The displacement of populations in this region continues unabated.
According to the report, 253,099 individuals received food assistance between January 8th and 30th, 2025, while 94,721 others were assisted with multisectoral cash from January 26th to 30th, 2025. The harrowing statistics paint a bleak picture of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo, demanding urgent attention and intervention to alleviate the suffering of affected populations.