
Democratic Republic of Congo
We run some of our largest programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), working in 20 of 26 provinces and responding to diseases outbreaks, conflict and displacement, and health problems such as HIV/AIDs.
The population has little access to healthcare, and outbreaks are frequent due to poor surveillance and infrastructure. Violence has led to crises in the Kivus, Tanganyika and Kasai regions and forced millions to flee. Three of our staff, abducted in North Kivu in 2013, are still missing.
2018 Ebola outbreaks
Our main areas of activity in DRC


Armed conflict has triggered massive movements of people and their needs are immense. We provide emergency responses in the areas affected, notably currently in North and South Kivu, Kasai, Ituri and Tanganyika among others. We treat the wounded, cover basic health needs and adapt our services accordingly.


We support the national HIV/AIDS programme, which is implemented by the country's health authorities. Our teams work on improving access to screening and treatment, reinforcing treatment adherence, and patient retention. Awareness-raising through community-based activities is an important part of our projects.


According to official statistics in DRC, malaria causes four times more deaths per year than conflict, meningitis, cholera, measles and respiratory diseases combined. Children are the most severely affected. Most of our projects include malaria care. We also carry out emergency interventions to contain outbreaks.


DRC is prone to outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as measles, yellow fever and cholera. We run mobile teams, which can be quickly deployed in emergencies. Among our responses to outbreaks of communicable diseases are vaccination campaigns, case management (including surgeries), health promotion and water and sanitation activities. Ebola outbreaks are also recurrent in DRC, and we support local authorities in the response.
2018 Ebola outbreaks

Many of our projects have an important component of women's health. Sexual violence is also a major issue in DRC, affecting men and boys as well as women and girls. We provide medical and psychological support, organise family planning activities, antenatal and postnatal consultations, and treat patients for sexually transmitted diseases.


In 2017, we observed an increase in admissions for malnutrition in all our medical structures. This is due to violence-triggered displacement, a bad agricultural season, and less funding. We are treating malnutrition in North Kivu, South Kivu and Kasai provinces.

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1,772,000
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856,500
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122,800
1977
1977

MSF strongly condemns violent robbery of compound in North Kivu

Left behind by the HIV response - Kinshasa

The work of mobile medical teams in Kasai

“People in the camp had one goal – to stay alive”

DRC Kasai Crisis update – October 2017

Testimonies from Kasai

“Months later, they still can’t remove the bloodstains from the soil”

Urgent need for aid in rural areas of Kasai

One of the most severe cholera epidemics in years continues
Reports & Analysis

Fexinidazole: A doctor's dream

Ebola in the DRC: between operational trial and error and scientific uncertainty

Left behind by the HIV response - Kinshasa

Violence and its humanitarian impact: the case of Kivu
