UNICEF raises alarm in DR Congo, where children face "unrelenting violence"

Children and Ituri residents in an IDP camp Children and Ituri residents in an IDP camp Xinhua/A.Uyakani

06 October 2020

According to UNICEF, 91 children have been killed, 27 maimed, and 13 were victims of sexual violence in Ituri between January and June 2020

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says it is “deeply concerned” about thousands of children at risk of unrelenting violence in Ituri, the Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to UNICEF,  91 children have been killed, 27 maimed, and 13  were victims of sexual violence in Ituri, Eastern DRC between January and June 2020. Also, the UN Agency said in a statement that nearly 18 health facilities have been looted or destroyed, and repeated attacks against more than 60 schools by militias have left around 45,000 children out of the classroom. 

The violence  escalated at the beginning of the year and the situation for children in Ituri has declined further. Consequently, more than 1.6 million people, the majority of whom are women and children, are estimated to be internally displaced. 

The mineral rich DRC has been plagued by numerous conflicts, concentrated in the Eastern part of the country, that have displaced large numbers of people, and forced civilians to flee their homes to internally displaced people (IDP) camps and neighbouring countries.

In a statement issued by UNICEF, the "unrelenting violence" facing children in Ituri is deeply concerning, and the agency stated that 2.4 million people required urgent humanitarian assistance in Ituri. 

The UN agency also reaffirmed its commitment together with its partners, to provide relief and support to the children of the DRC.

 

To know more, please read:

https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unrelenting-violence-continues-impact-children-ituri-eastern-drc 

https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1074772 

 

Author: Abbiba Ivy Princewill

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