Fighting in eastern DR Congo displaces thousands of children— UNICEF
Since December 1, intense clashes in the region have forced over 500,000 people to flee their homes, with children making up more than 100,000 of those displaced in South Kivu province alone. The fighting has caused hundreds of casualties, including children; four students were killed, six were injured, and at least seven schools have been attacked or damaged, according to UNICEF.
The surge in violence has driven many families across borders, with hundreds of thousands seeking refuge both within the DRC and in neighboring countries such as Burundi and Rwanda. Between December 6 and 11, over 50,000 people arrived in Burundi, nearly half of them children. UNICEF stressed the urgency of protecting children, stating, “Children must never pay the price of conflict.”
The M23 rebel group has recently advanced across parts of South Kivu, despite a peace accord signed in Washington earlier this year. The rebels control substantial territory, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu. The UN and Congolese authorities have accused Rwanda of supporting M23, a charge that Kigali denies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Rwanda’s actions, calling them “a clear violation of the Washington Accords signed by President Trump” and warned that Washington would act to ensure commitments under the agreement are upheld.
The peace accord, signed on December 4 by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, was intended to end the decades-long violence in eastern Congo and foster economic cooperation. However, the persistence of conflict continues to displace populations and inflict severe humanitarian consequences.
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