UNICEF: Over 100,000 children displaced by fighting in Eastern DR Congo
UNICEF has warned of a rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where renewed fighting has displaced more than 500,000 people since December 1, including over 100,000 children. The violence has spread into South Kivu province, damaging schools and forcing families to flee into neighboring Burundi and Rwanda. The US has accused Rwanda of violating a recent Washington-brokered peace agreement.
The United Nations Children's Fund has issued a stark warning about soaring displacement in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where intense fighting has forced more than half a million people from their homes since the start of December. UNICEF stated that over 100,000 of those displaced are children, with numbers expected to rise as violence continues to spread.
Schools Attacked and Cross-Border Flight
In a statement released Sunday, the UN agency reported that hundreds have been killed in the recent escalation, with children among the victims. At least seven schools have been attacked or damaged, and four students were killed with six others injured. The crisis has triggered a significant cross-border movement, with many families fleeing into Burundi and Rwanda. Between December 6 and 11 alone, over 50,000 new arrivals were reported in Burundi, nearly half of them children.
US Accuses Rwanda of Violating Peace Agreement
The renewed offensive comes despite a "historic" peace and economic agreement signed in Washington on December 4 by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The deal, brokered by US President Donald Trump, aimed to end the decades-long conflict. However, the M23 rebel group has continued to advance in South Kivu province, controlling significant territory including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Rwanda on Saturday of a "clear violation" of the Washington Accords, warning that the US "will take action to ensure promises made to the President are kept."
Decades of Violence and a Persistent Crisis
The conflict in eastern Congo has persisted for decades, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions. The UN and the Congolese government have long accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim Kigali denies. As the fighting displaces ever more civilians, UNICEF emphasized the urgent need for protection, stating, "Children must never pay the price of conflict."
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