Abortion Access for All

Since early 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern provinces have faced severe instability due to the M23 rebel group's takeover of Goma and Bukavu. This conflict has led to widespread violence, displacement, and a collapse of essential services, including sexual and reproductive health care.

Over 10,000 cases of sexual violence have been reported, and access to medical and psychological support remains critically limited. Ipas DRC has responded with resilience, implementing contingency plans to maintain and restore services in affected areas. Here is more on the impact of this crisis on reproductive health, and the strategic actions taken by Ipas DRC to uphold the rights and health of women and girls. 

Conflict and Health System Breakdown 

The violence following the M23 rebel group’s seizure of Goma and Bukavulead to a collapse of local governance and widespread insecurity that has displaced communities and dismantled health infrastructure. UNICEF reports over 10,000 cases of rape and sexual violence in North and South Kivu between February and August 2025. Survivors are left without access to emergency contraception, STI treatment, or psychological support. Only three of the 15 health facilities supported by Ipas DRC remain in government-controlled zones, and these are facing severe supply shortages. 

“The takeover of North and South Kivu by M23 has severely weakened the health system and access to abortion care for women and youth. Of the 15 health facilities Ipas supports, only three remain in government-controlled zones and are cut off from supply chains. These facilities are experiencing shortages of sexual and reproductive health medications, limiting accessibility,” says Dr. Moise Musa Byamungu, health system and social and behavior change communication officer for Ipas DRC’s Bukavu office. 

Ipas DRC’s Strategic Response 

Despite the crisis, Ipas DRC has implemented a robust contingency plan to maintain essential services. 

• Established a community health center to replace the military hospital. 

• Trained new health professionals and supported ongoing supervision at health centers. 

• Secured temporary contraceptive supplies through our partners DKT International following the destruction of a crucialUNFPA site and suspension of USAID funding. 

• Maintained operations at most sites, with the exception ofBisengimana Hospital due to staff displacement. 

• Restored services at all supported facilities, excluding the military hospital which now functions as a war casualty treatment center. 

Most supported sites have resumed operations, except for the military hospital, which now serves as a war casualty treatment center. Ipas staff have maintained communication with health officials, even in rebel-controlled zones, to ensure delivery of supplies and data collection. 

Operational Adaptations and Resilience 

Field visits by community health workershave been reduced due to security concerns, but local coordination has intensified through virtual engagements. Secure and supervised protocols for supply distribution have been implemented, led by health zone officials. Ipas DRC has strengthened communication with service providers, enabling better monitoring and tracking of services. Collaboration with Health Zone Offices continues even in high-risk areas, demonstrating Ipas’s commitment to sustaining reproductive health services under challenging conditions. 

Continued Commitment 

Despite ongoing disruptions and institutional changes within government partners, Ipas DRC remains focused on its mission. Strategic partnerships with the National Program for Reproductive Health have enabled continued technical and operational collaboration. This adaptive strategy ensures uninterrupted service delivery and reinforces Ipas DRC’s dedication to protecting the rights and health of women and girls in fragile contexts. 

• Reference for photo placements and formatting. (PDF)
  

The drastic dismantling of the United States foreign aid program has brought the global health and development community to an inflection point.

This is a crisis for all health care, and sexual and reproductive health and rights must be treated as a priority. Without adequate funding, tens of millions of people will lose access to contraception, resulting in millions of unsafe abortions and tens of thousands of preventable deaths.

But if there’s a silver lining to all this suffering and chaos, it’s this: We can and must reimagine global health, including sexual and reproductive health, to ensure people everywhere can still access the care they need—even without U.S. funding.

I want you to know that Ipas is ready for this moment. 

With your support, Ipas’s comprehensive approach to building sustainable abortion care—and our partnerships with local leadership—can help our government and civil society partners chart a path forward.

Together, we will: 

1. Strengthen partnerships—including with new, non-traditional and private-sector partners—to advance sexual and reproductive health in innovative ways in the absence of U.S. funding. 
   
   
2. Increase our advocacy support to governments, showcasing that abortion and contraception are essential health care, pillars of democracy, and a critical long-term public health investment.
   
   
3. Bolster self-managed abortion safety and access to relieve strain on health systems and open pathways to care. 
   
   
4. Scale up digital solutions to share accurate information about and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion. 
   
   
5. Scale up our anti-rights and anti-gender monitoring and advocacy to counter these harmful movements and support the international human rights of all. 
   
   
6. Support local partners and movements through the Ipas Collaborative Fund’s grantmaking and technical assistance. The Fund is uniquely based in the Global South and channels flexible resources to organizations closest to impact. 

I thank you for your support of Ipas and invite you to read more about how Ipas will meet the changing global health landscape—including more details on the six immediate responses I’ve listed above.  

With the support of donors and partners like you around the world, Ipas will stay the course. We have survived extraordinary challenges in the past, and we know that our mission, persistence and expertise are more critical than ever in the current moment.  

With you by our side, we’ll keep working to make progress because we believe in a world where everyone can determine their own future. 

Links:

• Reimagining Sexual & Reproductive Health Without US Involvement