The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has issued an urgent warning about the critical situation faced by children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. These areas have been the epicenter of violent clashes sparked by the M23 terrorist group, leaving thousands of children in extreme vulnerability.

The CRC reported a surge in violence in the region, where armed groups frequently target children who have been displaced from their homes or live in severe poverty. The situation became even more tragic after the murder of 45 children at a shelter in Goma, which occurred when the city was seized by M23 militias in January.

Thirty girls who managed to escape this brutal attack are now living on the streets in Gisenyi, Rwanda, a border town where they face extremely harsh living conditions.

The threat of sexual violence has become a daily reality for many children in the conflict zones. In response, the CRC has made an urgent plea to all parties involved to end these abuses and negotiate an immediate ceasefire.

Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, have left thousands of children without access to essential services, further worsening the already critical humanitarian situation in eastern DRC.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that out of the 26.4 million people in need of humanitarian aid in the DRC, 15.4 million are children. Additionally, it is estimated that 40% of the 6.7 million internally displaced people are minors, highlighting the devastating impact of the conflict on the country’s youth.

In light of this humanitarian crisis, the CRC and UNICEF have called on the international community and all stakeholders to protect children, ensure access to humanitarian aid, and end the violence that has shattered thousands of lives. Their priority, they stressed, must be to protect children and restore their fundamental rights.

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