The number of IDPs in the DRC doubled within one year from 2.2 million to 4.4 million in December 2017. [Map 2] The greatest number of newly displaced people was in North Kivu with some 460,600, bringing the total number of displaced in that province to 1.1 million. While the majority of displacement in the DRC took place within the country, the number of refugees also grew over the course of 2017. All indications are that the newly arriving DRC refugees came from the same areas that were the sources of massive internal displacement, such as North Kivu and Kasai. At the end of 2017 there were over 620,800 Congolese refugees, mainly in other African countries. Uganda hosted the largest number with 226,200, followed by Rwanda (82,800), Burundi (61,900), Tanzania (56,900), Angola (38,500), Zambia (34,900), Congo (12,300), South Sudan (15,000), and the Central African Republic (4,000). At the same time, the DRC also hosted over half a million refugees displaced from neighbouring countries, living mainly in remote and extremely poor border areas. The largest number were from Rwanda (220,400), who arrived largely in the 1990s, followed more recently by refugee groups from the Central African Republic (181,900), South Sudan (89,000), and Burundi (44,500). During 2017, the number of refugees in the DRC grew by some 104,400, primarily due to a massive arrival from the Central African Republic beginning in May, adding to the continuing arrivals from South Sudan and Burundi. The Congolese situation is mainly rural, with 97 per cent of refugees and 70 per cent of IDPs in rural locations. Similarly, 77 per cent of Congolese refugees were located in rural locations in the countries of asylum, for the most part in the neighbouring border areas. Three-quarters of the Congolese refugee population were women and children, with nearly 54 per cent children. UNHCR launched a Regional Refugee Response Plan for the DRC situation (Regional RRP) in March 2018, in view of the complex situation and the growing number of refugees. The Regional RRP presented the needs of 31 partners totalling US$ 509 million. It calls upon the international community, from governments to humanitarian and development actors, to demonstrate stronger commitment to addressing the situation facing the DRC today, including ensuring adequate resources and collaboration so that humanitarian assistance can be delivered. This must be complemented by a solutions-oriented approach and development activities that benefit the displaced and host communities alike. ■ Democratic Republic of the Congo. The plight of these refugee women and children is masked by the sunset as they head towards their camp in Lusenda, in South Kivu Province. © U N H C R / Eduardo S ot e ras J al i l unhcr > Global trends 2017 37