The Democratic Republic of Congo faces a cascading WASH crisis that reveals how conflict, climate disasters, and inadequate infrastructure create a perfect storm for public health emergencies. With water consumption dropping to just 6.5 liters per person per day in conflict areas (less than half the humanitarian minimum according to the Sphere Standards), communities are forced into impossible choices between safety and survival.
What makes this crisis particularly devastating is how each challenge amplifies the others: destroyed water systems force reliance on contaminated sources, poor sanitation accelerates disease transmission, and overwhelming waste management creates breeding grounds for vectors. The underfunded response requires coordinated water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions.
