Eastern DRC Conflict

A recent resurgence of conflict in North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic Congo between the Congolese army and rebel forces led by General Laurent Nkunda has caused a major new wave of population displacement in a region that has seen nearly constant turmoil in the past ten years.

Approximately 300,000 people have become newly displaced since 27 October 2008. Many of these people are already displaced and have been seeking refuge in a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP). These people have had to leave suddenly, and now have little, if any, access to food, health care, sanitation and shelter. These conditions have been made worse by daily rains. Save the Children is particularly concerned about unaccompanied children who have become separated from their families and are displaced alone, without shelter.

Situation affecting children

Approximately half of the displaced are said to be children. Children are especially vulnerable in this context as they have limited or no access to food, healthcare and shelter. We are deeply concerned about children’s protection. The number of vulnerable children has increased, as they have become displaced from the camps and their homes, and worryingly separated from their families. Within this chaos, they are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, sexual violence and abduction by armed groups due to the presence of military groups among displaced populations.

Save the Children responding to the conflict

It is essential that we meet children’s immediate needs, especially those children who are separated from their families, and help people who have had to leave their homes and camps with nothing. We aim to support approximately 50,000 people, more than 10% of all affected people with education, health and nutrition activities, shelter materials and household kits. We will also be looking at providing longer-term livelihoods support to families.

Child Protection

Child protection work in this context is vital – our experience in this sector and in this particular region positions us ideally to respond in this way. We will be registering separated children and reunifying them with their families. We will also be running child friendly spaces, where children can get support to overcome the emotional stress of the conflict and displacement, play in a safe and protected environment but also where we can identify separated children.

Background

Save the Children has been working across eastern DRC, since 1994. Much of the work has included family tracing and reunification, as well as support to the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of children formerly associated with armed groups. Save the Children started work in Uganda 1959 and Rwanda in 1994, when we helped trace parents or relatives of children who had become separated from their families and successfully reunited 40,000 children with family members.

How you can help

To support children and their families affected by the recent resurgence of conflict in eastern DRC please visit www.savethechildren.og.uk or visit your national Save the Children organisation.

More information

For more information and for interviews, please contact Save the Children's media unit:
In DRC: George Graham, Information / Advocacy Officer, Save the Children UK, (243) 998 754 107

More on our response

Eye Witness Accounts

Voices: Antonetta's Journey
Diary of an Aid Worker
Voices Gasigwa
David and Gerad, Former Child Soldiers from the DRC
BBC Photojournal: Tragedy in DRC
Ishbel Matheson shares her experiences from DRC
Photo Essay: Save the Children Forced To Evacuate As Fighting Intensifies In Democratic Republic Of Congo
Video: This is one in a series of films focusing on Save the Children's work on children's health in DRC
Rewrite the Future runs programmes in DRC: Read how Save the Children promotes education in conflict

Press Releases

Half of families torn apart by war in the Congo, says Save the Children (24 November)
Schoolchildren seized as armed groups in DRC recruit child soldiers (7 November)
Save the Children Aids Families Fleeing Congo Conflict (4 November)
Save the Children forced to evacuate as DRC fighting intensifies (30 October)