The 10th analysis cycle on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification undertaken in December 2013 revealed that 6.7 million people are classified in Phases 3 (Crisis) and 4 (Emergency) and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

In comparison with the 9th cycle of June, food security has globally experienced a slight deterioration and remains very worrying in certain territories, particularly Irumu in "Province Orientale", Punia in Maniema, Manono, Mitwaba and Pweto in the Katanga Province. The proportion of people facing food security crisis and emergency situation is estimated at 11% of the rural population.

The geographical distribution shows that 5 zones are in emergency phase (phase 4), 68 zones are facing food crisis situation (phase 3) and 63 zones are under pressure, in phase 2. 

The causes of food insecurity in DRC are:

• the persistence of armed group operations
• violence perpetrated by armed groups and the aftermath of military operations in the East;
• the high prevalence of acute malnutrition which affects a large proportion of children aged less than 5 years;
• the inadequate food consumption of poor families in terms of poor calorific value and unbalanced;
• diseases and various natural disasters (climate perturbations, flood, problem in rain patterns, landslides especially); with a more or less important impact on crops, livestock, and infrastructure. 

Moreover, it is worth noting that the causes of food insecurity in DRC are various and diversified and closely related to the generalized poverty of rural population. The entire country, in rural areas, almost experiences a lack of basic infrastructure and general problems related to rural development.

Humanitarian action should target first and foremost zones facing food crisis and in emergency situation in the Eastern part of the country, especially: the Northern Provinces and South-Kivu, of Maniema, “Province Orientale” and Katanga still affected by armed conflicts and populations displacements. In these zones, local conflicts prevention and mitigation efforts, food assistance and emergency agricultural support, the restoration of essential social services and economic recovery particularly agricultural are necessary to support the restoration of security and a sustainable socioeconomic reintegration of displaced people, and thus contribute to the local economic recovery.

In zones with high acute malnutrition rates of the Central and Western part of the country (Kasaï Occidental, Bandundu, Kasaï Oriental and Equateur) a national integrated approach (adapted to each zone) for the nutrition, food security and livelihoods would permit the affected communities to ensure availability and access to nutritive food at local level. Specific actions targeting refugees and host communities should be undertaken in collaboration with the HCR in Equateur and “Province Orientale” which host more than 58 000 Central African refugees.

Finally, the whole rural zones which experience a lack or a high deterioration of infrastructure (roads, water supply system, etc.) and recurrent natural disasters (climatic perturbations, floods, etc.) should be taken into account in investment schemes and the development of risk and disaster management programs.