UNICEF Urges Immediate Action as Violence in Eastern DRC Escalates, Targeting Children and Families.
KINSHASA/NEW YORK:
UNICEF has raised an alarm over the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in North and South Kivu provinces, where the humanitarian situation has taken a devastating toll on children and families. Reports of grave violations, including widespread sexual violence and abductions, have surged, with alarming impacts on vulnerable children.
The UN children’s agency condemned the disturbing rise in cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence, which have reached levels surpassing previous years. In a particularly shocking week between January 27 and February 2, 2025, UNICEF’s partners reported a dramatic five-fold increase in the number of rape cases treated across 42 health facilities. Of those victims, 30 percent were children, a grim indicator of the scale of abuse. However, the true extent of the violence remains unknown, as many survivors are too afraid or traumatized to come forward.
Among the most harrowing testimonies is that of a mother who recounted the brutal rape of her six daughters, the youngest of whom was just 12 years old. Armed men had systematically assaulted the girls while they were desperately searching for food amid the conflict.
In addition to sexual violence, communities across the eastern DRC continue to suffer from intense bombardment and gunfire, with civilians, particularly children, caught in the crossfire. The ongoing violence has forced thousands of children in displacement camps to flee repeatedly in an effort to escape the fighting, exposing them to even greater dangers.
The crisis has also led to a sharp increase in the number of children separated from their families. In the last two weeks alone, more than 1,100 unaccompanied children have been identified in North and South Kivu, with the situation continuing to worsen. These children are at a heightened risk of abduction, recruitment by armed groups, and sexual violence. UNICEF is working urgently to register these children, provide temporary foster care, and offer medical and psychosocial support.
Before the recent escalation, the recruitment of children into armed groups was already on the rise in the region. With the growing demand for young fighters, UNICEF fears that recruitment rates will accelerate, and reports indicate that children as young as 12 are being forcibly enrolled into militant groups.
UNICEF has called on all parties to the conflict to immediately halt the violations against children and civilians. The organization emphasized that these parties must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and vital infrastructure. Additionally, UNICEF stressed the importance of providing humanitarian organizations with safe, unimpeded access to all affected areas to ensure that children and families receive the support they urgently need.
In its statement, UNICEF also called for increased diplomatic efforts to halt the military escalation and to work towards a lasting political solution to the violence. Only through peace can the children of the DRC hope to live in safety and stability once again.
As the conflict continues to escalate, UNICEF and its partners remain at the forefront of efforts to provide life-saving assistance to the children and families caught in this devastating crisis.
