Between July 2025 and June 2026, 4.18 million children aged 6–59 months are suffering or expected to suffer acute malnutrition and be in urgent need of nutrition services and treatment. This includes more than 1.35 million children suffering Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Additionally, nearly 1.54 million pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBW) in DRC are expected to be malnourished and in need of treatment in the same period.

In the current period (July – December 2025), corresponding to the period of seasonal decline in acute malnutrition, five units of analysis covering 32 health zones are classified as Critical (IPC AMN Phase 4) while 18 units covering 16 health zones, one territory and two provinces are classified as Serious (IPC AMN Phase 3). The situation is expected to deteriorate significantly in the projected period (January – June 2026), corresponding to the seasonal peak period for acute malnutrition, where the total number of health zones in IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical) will increase from 33 to 37 and the units in IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious) will increase from 18 to 106.

The main drivers of acute malnutrition are multiple and interlinked. Insufficient complementary feeding, poor food access, epidemic outbreaks, high morbidity rates, and poor water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions contribute to acute malnutrition. These challenges are compounded by civil insecurity and massive population displacement in the east (North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Tanganyika) which are further deteriorating access to basic health services, particularly for host and displaced households.