In 2025, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) witnessed another wave of violence as an ISIS-linked militant group killed at least 78 civilians, adding to the region’s protracted instability and humanitarian crisis. This brutal attack highlights the ongoing insecurity in the east, where multiple armed groups contest control, fueling displacement, destruction, and extreme suffering among local populations. The violence exacerbates existing challenges, including widespread displacement and collapse of essential services, while humanitarian access remains constrained.
The Incident and Its Broader Context
The killing of at least 78 civilians by an ISIS-linked group in eastern DRC is one of many such attacks contributing to an increasingly volatile security environment. This region, notably in North and South Kivu provinces, faces complex armed conflict dynamics with numerous factions, including ISIS affiliates, Rwanda-backed militias, and local rebel groups.
The violence has forced over 1.1 million people to be displaced so far in 2025, with many fleeing multiple times due to recurrent attacks and insecurity. The ISIS-linked group’s attack is symptomatic of the broader instability that plagues the region, undermining peace efforts and destabilizing communities.
Jan Egeland, a senior humanitarian leader, captured the scale of the crisis, saying
“Millions facing destitution as violence forces people to flee multiple times with losses, disease, and lack of aid.”
This statement underscores the compounded vulnerabilities of civilians caught in this protracted conflict.
Humanitarian Crisis and Displacement
Eastern Congo’s ongoing conflict has created one of the most severe humanitarian emergencies in Africa, with an estimated 7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country. These IDPs typically reside in overcrowded camps, often lacking adequate shelter, water, sanitation, and access to healthcare.
The forced displacement caused by repeated attacks such as the ISIS-linked killings intensifies the deprivation faced by civilians. Many are trapped in makeshift camps with little hope of return, lacking food security and protection. The repeated cycles of displacement create a “locked in limbo” situation for affected populations, severely impacting their ability to rebuild and recover.
Health and Public Services in Crisis
The escalating violence has had a devastating effect on health infrastructure in eastern DRC. Several hospitals and health centers have either been destroyed or are overwhelmed, drastically reducing access to emergency medical care and routine health services. In Goma, the major city in North Kivu, health facilities have registered more than 3,000 injured and over 800 deaths related to the conflict since January 2025.
The fighting and displacement have also precipitated outbreaks of deadly diseases, aggravated by the collapse of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems in overcrowded camps. Cholera outbreaks and emerging mpox cases have put additional strain on already overstretched health services. The degradation of public health conditions has heightened the risk of secondary crises, including nutritional deficiencies and increased maternal and child mortality.
In addition to physical health crises, psychological trauma and mental health issues have surged. The overcrowded, insecure environment combined with ongoing violence contributes to widespread mental distress. Moreover, the conflict has intensified gender-based violence, with many displaced women and girls subjected to rape and sexual exploitation, highlighting the urgent need for protective interventions.
Statements from Key Stakeholders and Urgent Appeals
Humanitarian leaders have continuously called for heightened international engagement to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC. Jan Egeland lamented the chronic neglect, stating,
“The lives of hundreds of thousands in eastern DRC are hanging by a thread due to repeated displacement and lack of humanitarian aid.”
His words demand that the global community pays urgent attention to this forgotten crisis.
WHO officials have also emphasized the critical need to ramp up medical supplies and support for frontline health workers to contain disease outbreaks and provide care amid dangerous conditions. They warn that without immediate scale-up of appropriate medical and humanitarian assistance, millions more could suffer and die.
United Nations agencies along with partner NGOs have repeatedly underscored the danger the ongoing conflict poses to civilians and the regional stability of the Great Lakes area. They warn that failure to address this conflict and humanitarian emergency risks further destabilizing an already fragile region.
Humanitarian Response: Scale, Constraints, and Funding Gaps
Despite the escalating crisis, humanitarian aid remains insufficient and hampered by limited access and ongoing security threats. UNHCR, alongside other international organizations, has increased efforts to deliver emergency aid focusing on cash assistance, food, shelter, and protection to displaced populations in conflict-affected territories such as Beni and Lubero.
By mid-2025, UNHCR was able to reach over 3,000 displaced households with assistance in these areas. However, much of eastern Congo remains inaccessible or dangerous for humanitarian workers, seriously limiting the reach and impact of aid efforts.
Further complicating response efforts are significant funding deficits. The scale of the crisis far exceeds the available resources, forcing humanitarian agencies to prioritize emergency medical care and life-saving services. This has raised fears of a humanitarian collapse if funding and access do not improve.
Jan Egeland criticized the global community’s muted response, reminding policymakers,
“The global neglect of civilians in eastern DRC should shame world leaders. Aid must match the scale of human suffering.”
He called for sustained investments in peacebuilding and durable solutions for displaced people.
Regional and International Responses
The African Union Commission (AUC) has issued a formal statement deeply condemning the violence in eastern DRC and calling for a cessation of hostilities. The AUC appeals to all armed groups to respect humanitarian principles and allows for free access to aid.
At the international level, there is concern that unchecked violence risks spilling over into neighboring countries, potentially destabilizing the wider Great Lakes region. Diplomats and multilateral actors stress the importance of political dialogue and security sector reform to address root causes of violence alongside humanitarian interventions.
A Forgotten Crisis Demanding Urgent Action
The ISIS-linked group’s killing of at least 78 civilians in eastern Congo is not an isolated incident but a brutal manifestation of wider conflict and humanitarian collapse. For millions caught in this cycle of violence, displacement, and disease, the future remains uncertain and fraught with hardship.
Urgent priorities include enhanced protection for civilians, improved humanitarian access, and increased funding for emergency aid and health services. Simultaneously, long-term efforts toward conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and regional stability are essential to break the cycle of violence.
As Jan Egeland articulated,
“Aid must match the scale of human suffering,”
signaling a clear mandate for the global community to act decisively before the crisis further deepens.
