UNICEF Sounds Alarm Over Surge in Violence Against Children in Eastern DRC Amid Intensifying Conflict.
Kinshasa:
UNICEF has issued a grave warning regarding the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in the provinces of North and South Kivu. The organization reports a sharp rise in the number of grave violations against children, including an alarming increase in cases of sexual violence, particularly rape, committed by parties to the ongoing conflict.
Between 27 January and 2 February 2025, UNICEF’s local partners reported a five-fold increase in the number of rape cases treated across 42 health facilities in the affected regions. Disturbingly, 30% of the victims treated were children. The true scale of the crisis is likely much higher, as many survivors are reluctant to come forward, with stigma and fear of further violence deterring them from seeking help. In addition, UNICEF partners are running critically low on the medication required to prevent HIV infection following sexual assault, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
One of the most harrowing accounts shared by UNICEF staff involved a mother who described how her six daughters, the youngest of whom was just 12 years old, were repeatedly raped by armed men while they were searching for food. This heartbreaking story is just one of many reflecting the horrific reality faced by children and families in the region.
Amid the conflict, children and families in the eastern DRC continue to endure relentless violence, including bombardment and gunfire. Thousands of displaced children in makeshift camps have been forced to flee multiple times in an attempt to escape the fighting, leaving them vulnerable to further exploitation and harm. The chaos has resulted in more than 1,100 unaccompanied children being identified in North and South Kivu in the past two weeks alone, with the number continuing to rise. These children are at heightened risk of abduction, recruitment by armed groups, and sexual violence.
UNICEF staff are working tirelessly to provide support to these vulnerable children, including registering unaccompanied minors, placing them with temporary foster families, and ensuring they receive critical medical and psychosocial care. However, the scale of the crisis continues to outstrip available resources.
The recruitment of children into armed groups was already a major issue in the region prior to the escalation of violence, but reports suggest that with calls for the mobilization of young fighters, the recruitment rates are expected to accelerate. Children as young as 12 are reportedly being coerced or recruited into armed groups, further exacerbating the humanitarian disaster.
UNICEF has called on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease and prevent violations of children’s rights, urging them to take concrete actions to protect civilians and critical infrastructure essential for survival, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The organization also called for unhindered humanitarian access to reach children and families in need, wherever they may be. UNICEF continues to advocate for increased diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the violence and pursue a lasting political solution, ensuring that the children of the DRC can live in peace.
