By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UNICEF warned on Friday that fresh fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has displaced tens of thousands of families, with children particularly at risk.
The agency said that over 850,000 civilians have been displaced in South Kivu province, half of them children.
Many are living in precarious conditions, sheltering in schools, churches or in the open, lacking clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education, it noted
UNICEF stressed grave violations against children have sharply risen, including sexual violence, killings, maiming and their recruitment by armed groups.
Jean François Basse, UNICEF acting head in the DRC said “We are facing an unprecedented protection crisis. Children are being targeted. They are being killed, recruited, torn from their families and exposed to horrific sexual and physical violence.”
The fighting has disrupted vital services and humanitarian operations, with the closure of Kavumu Airport near the provincial capital Bukavu and banks delaying critical aid operations. The region is also witnessing an uptick in cholera, measles and mpox outbreaks, the agency said.
UNICEF is working to re-open schools and support health centres, urged all parties to respect international law and ensure unhindered aid access.
Mr. Basse said “We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities, protect children, respect international humanitarian law and guarantee rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access”.
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