In January 2021, MSF medical teams sent to provide assistance to inhabitants and forced displaced people seeking refuge in the area of Boga (Ituri province), identified an increase in the number of women seeking support from the medical teams in charge of sexual and reproductive health for cases of sexual assault and rape. MSF treated 67 patients suffering from sexual violence symptoms in January and February 2021 (1 month intervention).

Similar to the people of Boga, all the communities in the Ituri province have seen their lives upended by 3 years of systematic violence, and they need help and assistance. Although many humanitarian organisations are currently present in the region, they are no longer able to cover the ever-growing healthcare and sanitary needs, especially as they remain largely under-funded.

In Ituri, MSF supports three general hospitals, 12 healthcare centres, three health posts and 32 community healthcare facilities in the Drodro, Nizi and Angumu health zones. These cover paediatric illnesses, malnutrition, malaria, sexual violence and mental health support. MSF has also offered sanitary support, in the form of latrines and sanitation activities, in 49 sites for displaced people, distributed non-food items and punctually supplied a limited number of healthcare centres with medications.