Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is witnessing an increase in the mortality of malnourished children in Masisi, an isolated area of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where pervasive violence is restricting people’s access to health care.

In the last two months, the mortality rate in the health care facilities supported by MSF went from 6.4 percent to 8 percent. “Insecurity is putting a stop to rural activities and causing families to flee for safety”, said Ahmosi Twengererwe Bembeleza, Mobile Clinic Nurse Supervisor. “When people lose their land and belongings they often also lose the ability to feed their children. Too often people avoid the journey to a health center because of the fear of being robbed or attacked. As a result, more malnourished children come to our therapeutic feeding centers at an advanced stage of malnutrition, and when their situation is too critical, even our best care is not enough.”

Abarishimana, mother of two twins, explained her situation to MSF medics in one of the mobile clinics.