UN / DRC UPDATE

Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, told reporters in New York that “ongoing violence” in South Kivu and North Kivu provinces - in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) “continues to claim the lives of civilians and trigger new displacement,” with more than 42,500 fleeing the fighting. UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:02:12
• Production Date: 18 July 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: FARHAN HAQ
• Corporate Name: OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; WAR VICTIMS; ARMED CONFLICTS
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: 3426644
• Parent Id: 3426644
• Alternate Title: unifeed250718c

Description

STORY: UN / DRC UPDATE
TRT: 02:12
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 18 JULY 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

RECENT - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

18 JULY 2025, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, spokesperson Farhan Haq at the podium
3. Med shot, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that ongoing violence in South Kivu and North Kivu provinces – in the east of the country – continues to claim the lives of civilians and trigger new displacement. In North Kivu, our partners on the ground in the territories of Rutshuru and Lubero reported that fighting between M23 and other armed groups continued until this past Tuesday. As of earlier this week, eight civilians had reportedly been killed, with more than 42,500 fleeing the fighting. In South Kivu, heavy clashes between M23 and other armed groups have persisted since early July in several territories – including Walungu, Kabare, Fizi, Mwenga and Kalehe. Local partners say the fighting has displaced at least 37,000 people from their homes. A humanitarian convoy coordinated by OCHA – which was primarily planned for today along the road between the provincial capital, Bukavu, and the city of Uvira – has been postponed due to a lack of necessary security guarantees for that route. Meanwhile, in villages along the border between North Kivu and Ituri provinces, attacks by ADF armed groups have reportedly killed at least 65 civilians, with dozens more injured. Many others remain missing. Significant displacement has been reported toward Beni and Mambasa territories.”
5. Med shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Our partners and teams on the ground are doing their best to maintain services for those affected, but access restrictions and severe funding shortages pose significant obstacles. Halfway through the year, our $2.54 billion response plan for the DRC is less than 13 percent funded, with about $321 million received to date. As you can imagine, the lack of funding is putting the lives of millions of people in the DRC at risk. Many partners are forced to scale back their operations, disrupting essential services for those in need. OCHA calls on the international community to take urgent action to address these severe funding gaps and stave off a humanitarian tragedy.”
7. Wide shot, end of briefing

Storyline

Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, today (18 Jul) told reporters in New York that “ongoing violence” in South Kivu and North Kivu provinces - in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) “continues to claim the lives of civilians and trigger new displacement,” with more than 42,500 fleeing the fighting.

In the territories of Rutshuru and Lubero in North Kivu fighting between M23 and other armed groups continued until this past Tuesday, with eight civilians reportedly killed.

Meanwhile, in South Kivu, Haq said, “heavy clashes between M23 and other armed groups have persisted since early July in several territories – including Walungu, Kabare, Fizi, Mwenga and Kalehe,” with at least 37,000 people displaced from their homes.

He said, “a humanitarian convoy coordinated by OCHA – which was primarily planned for today along the road between the provincial capital, Bukavu, and the city of Uvira – has been postponed due to a lack of necessary security guarantees for that route.”

In villages along the border between North Kivu and Ituri provinces, attacks by ADF armed groups have reportedly killed at least 65 civilians, with dozens more injured. Many others remain missing. Significant displacement has been reported toward Beni and Mambasa territories.

Haq said, “our partners and teams on the ground are doing their best to maintain services for those affected, but access restrictions and severe funding shortages pose significant obstacles.”

He noted that “halfway through the year, our $2.54 billion response plan for the DRC is less than 13 percent funded, with about $321 million received to date,” and said, “as you can imagine, the lack of funding is putting the lives of millions of people in the DRC at risk.”

The spokesperson said, “many partners are forced to scale back their operations, disrupting essential services for those in need,” adding that OCHA has called on the international community “to take urgent action to address these severe funding gaps and stave off a humanitarian tragedy.”