Healthy and Happy: children's food security in RDC

Dear Donors,

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase (IPC - an innovative multi-partner initiative for improving food security and nutrition analysis and decision-making made up of Governments, UN Agencies, NGOs, civil society and other relevant actors) analysis found that between January and June 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo 25.8 million people continue to face crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity.

The most determining factors are:

- Conflicts and insecurity – the intensification of armed conflicts continues to cause the massive displacement of the population. 2.3 million displaced people have to leave their livelihood to escape the war that limits their possibility to access to food;

- Prices increase – since July 2022 food prices keep on growing. In particular the price of corn and beans remain superior compared to the seasonal average and the purchasing power of the local population remains low;

- Humanitarian assistance – the prolonged nature of the current crises in the DRC and the emergence of new crises (in Sudan and Ukraine) could exacerbate the already precarious situation of households in need of food assistance;

- Agricultural production - Previous weather anomalies (mainly poor distribution of precipitation and excessive precipitation that cause floods) lead to the decrease of agricultural production. Ongoing conflicts also continue to prevent or reduce people’s access to production basins.

In this general context of the country, Aleimar and Amka continue to monitor the state of food safety and overall security of Katanga region, in particular in the areas of Mabaya and Sambwa, where our projects are developed. Our efforts in providing supplies of monthly protein-based food packages (milk and local food enriched by carbohydrates, proteins, fats) and of supplements of vitamins and minerals has never stopped. Next week our Aleimar Country Representative will take part in the periodic monitoring trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and – together with other Aleimar volunteers - they will deliver all the products to the local communities and evaluate the progress of the project.

Follow our monitoring trip and be part of the change. Your help would make it all possible!

Thank you!

Dear Donor,

With this report we would like to update you about the news coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo and about our project in the areas of Mabaya and Sambwa.

In the beginning of December, the fight in the east of the Country between the Congolese Army and the rebels of the Group M23 has restarted. The Group M23 born in 2004 is composed by rebels and it is thought to be supported by the Government of Rwanda. In the end of October, the Congolese Government has expelled the Rwandan ambassador.

Both sides (M23 and the Government of DRC) had been called to take part in a mini-summit in Luanda (Angola) on the 23^rd of November and it brought to a cease-fire on the 25^th, which has not been followed by the retreat of the rebels from the occupied territories. In the beginning of December, the conflict in the east of the Country has started again and according to the United Nations, 300.000 civilians have escaped in order to saves themselves from the fight.

Fortunately, our project is located in the South of the Country, but this has not saved the area from the devastating effects of climate change. The heavy rain has caused floods and it makes it more complicated to communicate. Despite these difficulties, our project aimed at promoting the right to food for children suffering or at risk of malnutrition is going on through the collaboration between Aleimar and AMKA. In November AMKA has also started the follow-up and training meetings dedicated to 13 mothers of malnourished children that will launch little income-generating activities in order to improve food access for their families. Promoting the development of productive and commercial activities is a fundamental lever to fight child malnutrition and improve food security for the community.

All this has been possible thanks to the help of all of you that have supported the project and that have believed in our goals!

Thank you!