D.R.Congo: Staying the course in one of Africa's forgotten crises
After decades of instability, DR Congo is still in the throes of crisis. Yet, Medair has stayed the course for more than 25 years to help save lives and strengthen communities.
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Ongoing Emergency
As the mpox outbreak in Central Africa has escalated within recent weeks, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on the 14th of August 2024. Medair is responding and saving lives during the ongoing mpox outbreak.
The needs
The ongoing crisis in DR Congo is multifaceted and complex, as communities struggle to break free from a decades-long cycle of instability, conflict, and disease outbreak. A lack of essential services, like water or health care, puts people’s health and wellbeing at risk, while inadequate infrastructure, like roads and bridges, isolates already vulnerable communities even further from the help they need.
6.9 million
People displaced from their homes
25.4 million
People do not have enough food to eat
19.6 million
People need humanitarian assistance to survive
Testimonial
People are at the centre of all we do
Here's what they have to say about us.
“Medair has done good work here and the community is very satisfied with how things are working. There is a lot of goodwill towards Medair from the local people.”
Ndjaza Ddiro Mokpa Jean Louis
Medical staff, Kparnganza Health Centre
Our difference
In 2022, Medair supported 65 health facilities in DR Congo by providing supervision and training to medical staff and free health care and nutritional treatment for malnourished children. We protected lives against future threats through vaccination campaigns and community medicine initiatives. And we strengthened health centres for the long-term by improving hygiene conditions within the centres through the construction of sanitation facilities and water points.
730,645
People directly assisted in 2022
200,822
People benefited from restored health facilities
25,705
Babies delivered with Medair's support
Go deeper
Browse the latest updates and stories on the field.
Press releases
Medair – Mpox emergency – GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo - 29 AUG 2024
Mpox emergency in DRC – Awaiting vaccines, working on a Strategic National Response Plan
Press releases
Medair – responding to Mpox in Democratic Republic of Congo - 20 AUG 2024
Medair – responding to mpox in DRC. Observations of a front-line doctor
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Stories
The path of hope
Recent clashes in the Masisi and Rusthuru territories of the DRC have displaced families to Goma. There, at the Mudja refugee camp, Medair offers free primary healthcare.
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Reports
CEO BLOG: Why DR Congo matters
Medair works in coordination with the Congolese Ministry of Health and other humanitarian agencies to provide life-sustaining services to people displaced from their homes, and to the communities that receive them. The work I saw our teams doing on the ground reminded me that, despite the immensity of the challenge, hope remains.
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Stories
Meet the team
We had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Bonshi, an emergency doctor with Medair DRC since 2017.
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Reports
Deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Humanitarian needs have reached a new high in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Mid-June, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee – The UN’s highest-level humanitarian coordination forum – activated the “scale up” of humanitarian operations in the country. But international NGOs are already concerned that it will be insufficient to address the multiplicity of crises facing the country.
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Stories
Interview with Marian in D.R. Congo
Congo is experiencing one of the most neglected crises of our time. The situation is Congo has been one of conflict for decades now, so people think things are at a status-quo, but since November ’22 and then again since February ’23, there has been fighting on such a significant scale that we’re now close to 1 million newly displaced people (IDPs) in the province of North Kivu, where Medair works from the bases in Goma and in Butembo.
Reports
Annual Report 2022
We have seen a year of global upheaval, with the conflict in Ukraine, terrible droughts, increased military coups and conflicts, a massive hunger crisis, and new outbreaks of deadly diseases. Review the 2022 report.
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Thereare so many ways your gift will make a meaningful difference. Your support willprovide treatment for malnourished children, empower women, educate communitieson health, hygiene, and nutrition, and ensure access to safe watersources.
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Thanks to the compassion and generosity of our donors, volunteers, corporate partners, and foundations, we are able to restore life and hope in the world’s hardest-to-reach places.
Africa
Chad
Over 800,000 people are fleeing across the border. This massive influx is placing immense pressure on already strained resources. With limited support for refugees, Medair is on the ground providing essential WASH and Nutrition assistance.
Europe & Central asia
Yemen
While similar crises fight for the world’s attention, millions of children and mothers in Yemen are fighting for their lives in the shadows. Medair is responding with life-saving nutrition services.
Europe & Central asia
Ukraine
When conflict erupted in 2022 and sent millions of families fleeing for their lives, Medair was there within days to welcome them with open arms and meaningful support.
Europe & Central asia
Syria
The sudden collapse of the Assad regime follows 13 years of conflict which has had devastating effects on communities in Syria. Deadly earthquakes in 2023 and significant displacement since November 2024, first from the conflict in Lebanon and then due to internal political shifts in Syria, have compounded humanitarian needs. Medair has been in country since 2015. Our commitment to support Syrian people has never failed. We are determined to help rebuild by restoring health services, safe water sources, and shelters for those in desperate need. Our offices are opening again and our teams are resuming work.
Africa
Sudan
Violent clashes erupted once again in April 2023 around the capital, Khartoum. A staggering 4 million people fled their homes in just the first 100 days. Now, Sudan is once again in a full-blown humanitarian crisis and needs support to surv
Africa
South Sudan
When the road stops, we keep going. Our teams travel by boat, canoe and plane to the most isolated and hardest-to-reach communities in South Sudan, cut off from vital services like health care, nutrition, and water.
Africa
Somalia
Medair has been responding to crises in Somalia since 2008, helping some of the most isolated communities access health care and safe water and protecting women and children from violence.
Europe & Central asia
Lebanon
Since the beginning of the Syrian Crisis, Medair has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees in Lebanon as they struggle to rebuild their lives after surviving a civil war. We care for families by helping them meet their most urgent needs.
Europe & Central asia
Afghanistan
Medair has been responding to the effects of crisis in Afghanistan since 1996. While the country remains in crisis today, we do not lose hope for a peaceful and flourishing future for the people of Afghanistan.
Africa
DR Congo
After decades of instability, DR Congo is still in the throes of crisis. Yet, Medair has stayed the course for more than 25 years to help save lives and strengthen communities.
Africa
Madagascar
Since 2002, Medair has helped communities in Madagascar strengthen their resilience to climate disasters while helping to improve and restore access to safe drinking water.
Africa
Kenya
The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in more than 40 years. Medair’s nutrition outreach teams are travelling to northern Kenya’s most remote villages to save lives from malnutrition and disease.
Europe & Central asia
Jordan
Since the beginning of the Syrian Crisis, Medair has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees in Jordan as they struggle to rebuild their lives from the ground up.
Africa
Chad
Over 800,000 people are fleeing across the border. This massive influx is placing immense pressure on already strained resources. With limited support for refugees, Medair is on the ground providing essential WASH and Nutrition assistance.
DR Congo
After decades of instability, DR Congo is still in the throes of crisis. Yet, Medair has stayed the course for more than 25 years to help save lives and strengthen communities.
Kenya
The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in more than 40 years. Medair’s nutrition outreach teams are travelling to northern Kenya’s most remote villages to save lives from malnutrition and disease.
Madagascar
Since 2002, Medair has helped communities in Madagascar strengthen their resilience to climate disasters while helping to improve and restore access to safe drinking water.
Somalia
Medair has been responding to crises in Somalia since 2008, helping some of the most isolated communities access health care and safe water and protecting women and children from violence.
South Sudan
When the road stops, we keep going. Our teams travel by boat, canoe and plane to the most isolated and hardest-to-reach communities in South Sudan, cut off from vital services like health care, nutrition, and water.
Sudan
Violent clashes erupted once again in April 2023 around the capital, Khartoum. A staggering 4 million people fled their homes in just the first 100 days. Now, Sudan is once again in a full-blown humanitarian crisis and needs support to surv
America
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Asia
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Europe & Central asia
Afghanistan
Medair has been responding to the effects of crisis in Afghanistan since 1996. While the country remains in crisis today, we do not lose hope for a peaceful and flourishing future for the people of Afghanistan.
Jordan
Since the beginning of the Syrian Crisis, Medair has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees in Jordan as they struggle to rebuild their lives from the ground up.
Lebanon
Since the beginning of the Syrian Crisis, Medair has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees in Lebanon as they struggle to rebuild their lives after surviving a civil war. We care for families by helping them meet their most urgent needs.
Syria
The sudden collapse of the Assad regime follows 13 years of conflict which has had devastating effects on communities in Syria. Deadly earthquakes in 2023 and significant displacement since November 2024, first from the conflict in Lebanon and then due to internal political shifts in Syria, have compounded humanitarian needs. Medair has been in country since 2015. Our commitment to support Syrian people has never failed. We are determined to help rebuild by restoring health services, safe water sources, and shelters for those in desperate need. Our offices are opening again and our teams are resuming work.
Ukraine
When conflict erupted in 2022 and sent millions of families fleeing for their lives, Medair was there within days to welcome them with open arms and meaningful support.
Yemen
While similar crises fight for the world’s attention, millions of children and mothers in Yemen are fighting for their lives in the shadows. Medair is responding with life-saving nutrition services.
Oceania
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Past countries
Albania
Medair worked in Albania in 1998 and 1999.
Angola
Medair's engagement in Angola occurred in 2002 and later in 2018-2019.
Armenia
Medair extended support to Armenia in 1993 and 1994.
Bangladesh
Medair operated in Bangladesh in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2018, and 2019.
Central African Republic (C.A.R.)
Medair operated in C.A.R. in 2014.
Chechnya
Medair operated in Chechnya in 1995, 1996, and 2004.
Ecuador
Medair operated in Ecuador in 2016.
Haiti
Medair worked in Haiti from 2008 to 2009, 2010 to 2012, and 2016.
Honduras
Medair provided assistance in Honduras in 2020
India
Medair provided assistance in India in 2001.
Indonesia
Medair operated in Indonesia from 2006 to 2007 and later from 2008 to 2009, 2010 to 2012, and 2018.
Ingushetia
Medair provided assistance in Ingushetia in 1996.
Iran
Medair provided assistance in Iran in 2003.
Iraq
Medair provided assistance in Iraq in 1991, 1992, 2014
Kosovo
Medair operated in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999.
Liberia
Medair worked in Liberia in 1991.
Mozambique
Medair has been active in Mozambique since 2000, with ongoing operations until 2019.
Myanmar
Medair worked in Myanmar in 2016.
Nepal
Medair worked in Nepal from 2014 to 2015 and later in 2016 and 2018.
North Ossetia
Medair was involved in North Ossetia in 1995 and later in 2004.
Pakistan
Medair's involvement in Pakistan spans from 2005 to 2007 and later from 2016 to 2017.
Philippines
Medair started working in the Philippines in 2013 and has ongoing operations.
Rwanda
Medair provided assistance in Rwanda in 1994.
Sierra Leone
Medair provided assistance in Sierra Leone from 2014 to 2015.
Sri Lanka
Medair worked in Sri Lanka in 2004.
Turkiye
Medair began providing humanitarian aid in Turkiye after the earthquakes in 2023.
Uganda
Medair started working in Uganda in 1989, with operations continuing until 1990. We returned in 2000 and operated until 2003.
Vanuatu
Medair provided assistance in Vanuatu in 2015.
Zimbabwe
Medair operated in Zimbabwe in 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011-2012.