Dual Burden of Conflicts and Healthcare Collapse in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): A Call for Action

Dual Burden of Conflicts and Healthcare Collapse in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): A Call for Action | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 4 August 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Dual Burden of Conflicts and Healthcare Collapse in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): A Call for Action Authors : Emile CYUBAHIRO 0009-0002-8400-0800 and Darius Benimana 0009-0007-7113-8073 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175434123.39596681/v1 315 views 133 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Background: Healthcare is protected under international humanitarian law through principles like civilian-combatant distinction and necessity. However, rising attacks on medical personnel and facilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) represent grave violations of these laws, threatening uninterrupted care and undermining basic human rights. Objective: This narrative review synthesizes literature to highlight the compounded public health impact of ongoing conflict and health collapse in the DRC, guiding context-sensitive interventions and policy for sustainable recovery. Method: The research synthesizes data up to April 2025 from different peer-reviewed journals, Google Scholar, World Health Organization (WHO) and World Bank databases, and other sources through narrative review approach. Results: By the time of the research, ongoing conflict in the DRC, especially in the eastern provinces, had severely undermined healthcare access. Armed violence led to the destruction of over 70 health facilities, displacement of 7.3 million people, and disrupted vaccination campaigns, worsening cholera, Monkey pox (Mpox), malaria, and measles outbreaks. Maternal and child mortality remain high due to insecurity, destroyed maternity centers, and limited antenatal care. Over 25% face severe food insecurity, with over 2 million children acutely malnourished. Insecurity, aid worker attacks, poor infrastructure, corruption, weak coordination, and donor fatigue hinder sustained recovery. Conclusion: The DRC faces a critical health crisis driven by conflict and healthcare system collapse. Urgent global action is needed to protect health services, support frontline workers, and restore peace. While some humanitarian responses were taken; sustainable, coordinated context-sensitive interventions and long-term investments remain imperative to uphold human rights and prevent further humanitarian catastrophe. Supplementary Material File (dual burden of armed conflicts and healthcare collapse in the drc- call for action.docx) Download 146.75 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 04 August 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords armed conflicts democratic republic of congo healthcare collapse Authors Affiliations Emile CYUBAHIRO 0009-0002-8400-0800 Gaziantep Universitesi Tip Fakultesi View all articles by this author Darius Benimana 0009-0007-7113-8073 [email protected] University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 315 views 133 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Emile CYUBAHIRO, Darius Benimana. Dual Burden of Conflicts and Healthcare Collapse in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): A Call for Action. Authorea . 04 August 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175434123.39596681/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. 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