UNICEF Warns of Worsening Child Displacement Crisis in Eastern DR Congo

UNICEF Warns of Worsening Child Displacement Crisis in Eastern DR Congo
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More than 500,000 people, including over 100,000 children, have been displaced since Dec. 1 as a result of escalating fighting in South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

In a statement issued on Sunday, UNICEF said it is deeply concerned by the rapid deterioration of security in the province, where intensified hostilities have forced large numbers of civilians to flee their homes in search of safety. Many families have been displaced internally, while others have crossed borders into neighboring Burundi and Rwanda, placing additional pressure on already strained humanitarian systems.

UNICEF urged all parties involved in the conflict to prioritize the protection of children and to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law. The agency warned that children are facing heightened risks, including violence, family separation, and limited access to basic services such as healthcare, education, and clean water.

The UN agency noted that displacement figures are likely to continue rising as violence spreads across the province. Since Dec. 2, hundreds of people have reportedly been killed in South Kivu amid heavy fighting, including at least four children, underscoring the growing toll on civilians.

The conflict has also triggered a significant influx of refugees into Burundi. UNICEF reported that between Dec. 6 and Dec. 11, more than 50,000 people fleeing violence were identified in the neighboring country, nearly half of them children. Authorities and humanitarian partners expect the number of arrivals to increase further as registration efforts continue and insecurity persists in border areas.

The latest surge in displacement follows territorial gains by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group. Earlier this week, the group announced that it had taken control of Uvira, the second-largest city in South Kivu, located near the Burundian border. Uvira had been serving as the provisional administrative center of the province after the fall of the capital, Bukavu, to M23 forces in February.

Uvira is considered strategically important due to its role as a major commercial hub and its proximity to regional borders. Its capture has heightened fears of further instability in eastern DRC, a region that has experienced decades of conflict and repeated humanitarian crises. UNICEF reiterated calls for urgent action to protect civilians and expand humanitarian access to address the growing needs of displaced families.