With more than 3,4 millions internally displaced people recorded in June 2026 by the Population Mouvement Commission (CMP) in the provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu and Ituri, families who fled the war and are returning home face extreme hardship: unsanitary shelters, food insecurity, the absence of some schools, crumbling health facilities, as well as increased vulnerability for women and children.
It is within this context that Panzi Foundation officially launched on Monday, August 31, 2026, a vast operation to distribute emergency humanitarian assistance to families who have returned to Kaziba, located 37 miles south-east of Bukavu. This standalone distribution aims to provide food and health assistance kits, alongside the distribution of school supplies, to meet the diverse needs of 3,000 families, comprising displaced persons, returnees, and the most vulnerable.
This distribution, carried out in partnership with local authorities and community leaders, reaffirms Panzi’s commitment to assisting the people of South Kivu. In recent years, our commitment to these vulnerable communities has included support for agro-pastoral activities that foster women’s empowerment through solidarity savings groups (MUSOs).
Additionally, we have also funded the construction of a primary and secondary school, as well as a legal clinic to facilitate women’s access to justice. The Foundation has also strengthened medical and psychosocial care at the Kaziba General Referral Hospital, notably through support in medicines and equipment, and the construction of two hospital buildings. Currently, we are funding the rehabilitation of the hydroelectric dam that supplies electricity to the hospital and the community.
Speaking to the press, Mr. Bertin Rutega, Director of Programs at the Foundation, emphasized the importance of this emergency assistance: “We brought together local dignitaries and leaders at the Kaziba General Referral Hospital and defined together with the local community, the process to be followed in accordance with our methods at Panzi Foundation. It is a pleasure to be here today for the launch of these distribution activities, which will continue throughout the week,” he stated.
Mr. Jean-Bosco Chihire Byumanine, Administrative Secretary of the Kaziba Chiefdom, expressed his satisfaction with the actions taken by Dr. Denis Mukwege in the region. “The project was announced on July 31, 2026. Within a month, it has become a reality. We can only express our deepest gratitude to our benefactor, as he constantly advocates for Kaziba’s needs to be met,” he said.
Mr. Vital Barholere, Director of Operations at the Foundation, placed this action in a broader context: “I wanted to be present in Kaziba for this exceptional humanitarian aid intended for a population that has suffered from war. Dr. Mukwege continues to advocate around the world to help Congo emerge from this difficult situation.”
This latest humanitarian gesture reaffirms Panzi’s commitment to the people of South Kivu during these particularly trying times. While we await a durable resolution to the crisis affecting eastern DRC, this assistance provides immediate relief to the Congolese people and underscores the urgent need to keep the plight of those returning from the war in the spotlight.
