On Tuesday – International Children’s Day - the situation for children in the Kivu’s of the Democratic Republic of Congo became progressively grave. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated in their latest situation report that, “the continuing instability across the province is leading to a steady rise in violations against civilians”.[1] There are now more than two dozen armed groups active in the North and South Kivu provinces and the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict yesterday stated that children were being “deliberately targeted”.[2]
In the months leading up to the current emergency, War Child warned of the escalating crisis through our Child Protection Alert released in September. It has since been confirmed by the United Nations that 264 civilians, including 83 children, were summarily executed by armed groups between April and September 2012.[3] War Child remains gravely concerned of repeated attacks against children and the ongoing impunity with which all actors are operating – in contravention to international human rights standards and norms.
Fresh clashes between fighters with the rebel 23 March Movement (M23) and the Congolese National Army have forced thousands of already displaced men, women and children to flee once again, thus exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.[4] 60,000 civilians have fled the provincial capital of Goma between 17 and 20 November, adding to what the United Nations describes as ‘monumental humanitarian needs’ in the troubled provinces.
As of 20 November, there are now an estimated 1.6 million people in the eastern part of DRC that are internally displaced — the highest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the DRC since the end of 2009 - at least 50 per cent of the displaced are under 18 years of age.[5] Following intensive fighting in areas where tens of thousands of children were taking refuge in camps, War Child has serious concerns around unaccompanied children – left acutely vulnerable to all forms of abuse including targeted killings, sexual abuse and exploitation and, as the fighting intensifies, all forms of recruitment.
In the face of extreme insecurity, War Child UK’s partner in Goma, Don Bosco, has opened its doors to over 6,000 children, many of whom were alone. The area now has no water or electricity. Waterborne disease and sanitation is an urgent issue and the risk of a cholera epidemic is high. Unexploded devices are also spread across the city and hundreds of prisoners have escaped from the city’s main jail. Don Bosco is providing shelter, food and water but sanitation is urgently required. War Child UK has redeployed our staff in DRC to support Don Bosco’s efforts.
Despite the evident scale of need, according to OCHA, “North Kivu has emerged as one of the provinces facing a stark funding shortfall: US$ 9.9 million are required to cover the life-saving emergency needs of 274,000 vulnerable people across North Kivu over the next three months, out of a total gap of $31 million for 2 million people across DRC.”[6] War Child calls upon all donors to step-up their efforts to meet funding gaps and to meet the full requirements for Child Protection funding in order that further mass atrocities against children may be prevented and treated.
As the threat of a regional war grows - with the United Nations Security Council condemning the violence and called on all parties to exercise restraint -[7] War Child calls for a cessation of violence and for all parties to prioritise civilian protection. Urgent protection of all children in the Kivu regions of the DRC and adherence to international standards for the protection of children in armed conflict must be prioritised by both national and international actors. The international community, especially the UN peacekeeping force MONUSCO, should play a pivotal role, and secure the protection of the Congolese population, with a focus on children as being among the most vulnerable to physical and psychological harm.
--------------------------------------------------------- [1] UN OCHA, Democratic Republic of Congo - North Kivu, Situation Report No. 7, 5 October 2012.
[2] Press Release: Children affected by widespread violence in the eastern DRC, UN Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, New York, 21/11/2012.
[3] ‘Report of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office on Human Rights Violations perpetuated by armed groups during attacks on villages in Ufamandu I and II, Nyamaboko I and II and Kibabi Groupements, Masisi Territory, North Kivu Province, Between April and September 2012’ UNICEF and UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (November 2012). Available at: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/ZR/UNJHRO_HRVMasisi_en.pdf.
[4] ‘New fighting in eastern DR Congo adds to already dire humanitarian situation’, UN News Centre (19 November 2012). Available at: http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/news/.
[5] UNICEF Humanitarian action update, August 2012: http://www.unicef.org/hac2012/files/UNICEF_DRC_Humanitarian_Action_Update_2012.pdf .
[6] UN OCHA, Democratic Republic of Congo - North Kivu, Situation Report No. 7, 5 October 2012.
[7] Security Council Press Statement on Situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (17 November 2012). Available at: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2012/sc10819.doc.htm.
