The sound of joy amidst conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo

Conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo has forced millions of people to flee their homes. As well as losing their homes and fearing their safety, people displaced within DRC face issues of food insecurity and the spread of illness and disease due to a lack of sanitation and water services. Our SAFER (Strategic Assistance for Emergency Response) team, as part of Concern’s rapid response programme, works in the most difficult conditions, often in hard to reach areas, to ensure nobody is left behind. Saving lives and providing a sense of dignity to those whose voices have been drowned out by the sound of conflict is what drives our SAFER team.

A recent distribution effort provided food, personal hygiene kits and essential household items to over 5,700 households. Following the distribution, the community created a song of celebration. This song was created to raise awareness about best hygiene practices, set to the joyful beats of Congolese rhumba. As you listen, consider the human cost of the conflict in the DRC, but also the immense joy, dignity, talent and profound desire for peace among communities who are dealing with these daily challenges.  

Across eastern DRC, over a million people remain internally displaced after fleeing conflict, while about 1.8 million have returned to their home villages in 2025, often finding their properties destroyed and still fearing for their safety. In eastern DRC, 10 million people are experiencing food insecurity, with over 70% living below the poverty line. Many returnees live in inadequate conditions, frequently welcomed by host families who overcrowd their homes to support their communities. This situation exposes them to serious protection risks and diseases. Many of these individuals have fled conflict several times, caught up in tides of displacement, which have intensified since 2022.  

As the crisis continues, people like Hercules Samuel Kipa, Concern’s Emergency Response Programme Manager, work tirelessly to reach the most vulnerable with emergency assistance. 

Hercules recently visited Roulimba, a temporary distribution site set up by Concern on a large football field in Kibumba, located 29 kms north of the city of Goma. At this site, a Concern team accompanied by workers from the local community provided food and kits including pots, pans, crockery, soap and blankets to over 36,000 people. These individuals had returned home following the closure of IDP sites around the city of Goma, only to find their homes devastated, and essential infrastructure destroyed. 

"This return was not prepared, families returned to their homes abruptly, without any plan to return. This has increased their vulnerability in terms of access to food, essential household items, etc. they come back to find their homes demolished and devoid of any assistance," says Hercules. "The idea is really to assist these households urgently while waiting for other partners to take over."  

With funding from FCDO and ECHO, Concern responds to calls for urgent humanitarian assistance under the SAFER rapid response programme, a consortium involving a group of humanitarian agencies. Over the past year, Concern has provided in kind and cash assistance to over 200,000 people. Each intervention is carefully planned, involving detailed security assessments, and evaluations of the most pressing needs to ensure that the right assistance reaches the right people within the shortest possible time. Interventions such as these are no mean feat, given the presence of armed groups and constant risk of vehicles becoming stuck in thick mud during the rainy season.  

“We have a team of daily protection workers who identify people with special needs and support them, ensuring they are served as a priority. Our team also provides transportation to bring them back to their homes, ensuring they arrive safe and sound. Tents and tarpaulins are also installed to protect other participants," explained Emerance Kabwa, gender and protection officer for the SAFER programme. 

The challenges are enormous, but the SAFER team’s mission is to make sure that nobody is left behind. As explained by Mougabé Koslengar, Concern Programme Director: “Our teams work in difficult conditions, coordinating trucks to bring food, ensuring security for the participants and our staff. It is not easy, but we remain there with the community.”