2024-03-08 12:49:35
- Friday March 8, 2024 – 12:54
On the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day celebrated every March 8, the World Food Program (WFP) recommends special efforts for the case of the DRC concerning women. While the executive director of this United Nations organization is staying in the DRC, the best place to send the message.
It is impossible to talk about the well-being of the Congolese without mentioning the horrors of war and the rather worrying security situation in the eastern part. Cindy McCain, head of the WFP, has launched an appeal to the international community for urgent resources and support to respond to the worsening hunger crisis in eastern DRC, where Women bear a disproportionate burden of this humanitarian emergency.
“We must not ignore the incredible role of women in shaping the future of this nation. Investing in women and girls is not just about meeting urgent humanitarian needs. It is a strategic commitment to sustainable development and national resilience,” she said in a press release from Kinshasa.
In the DRC, the WFP works alongside the government on the issue of food, even in conflict zones. According to their figures, more than 1.7 million pregnant or breastfeeding women and girls suffer from acute malnutrition, which puts their lives and those of their children at risk. The number of people, including women, in need of food assistance is expected to increase from 6.4 million to 8.4 million in 2024 in the DRC.
It was also found that when there is a shortage of food, women are forced to make heartbreaking choices, sacrificing their own nutrition to ensure their children have enough to eat. “This cycle of deprivation not only perpetuates the cycle of poverty, but also undermines the resilience of entire communities,” insists the WFP.
Cindy McCain added that investing in women creates a powerful ripple effect, strengthening communities and developing the next generation of leaders.
“Finding lasting solutions to hunger requires making lasting progress in gender equality around the world. This is particularly evident in the DRC, where it is not only a human rights issue, but also fundamental to the peace and prosperity of the country,” she said.
In Kinshasa, the head of the WFP, Ciney McCain, met women beneficiaries of programs promoting financial inclusion and training in agricultural techniques set up by the WFP. She found that providing direct support to women and girls prevents them from dangerous situations that expose them to violence, exploitation and sexual abuse. Many women told the Executive Director that these programs have allowed them to take a step towards financial independence and provide their children with a better education.
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