The United Nations youngsters’ Fund reported that armed men had raped and sexually assaulted scores of youngsters caught up in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell issued a stark warning on Thursday, highlighting a significant surge in the targeting of children in recent weeks. She made a pressing appeal for an end to the violence, as M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, continue to grow their presence, engaging in clashes with Congolese forces and their allied militias. She stated “In the North and South Kivu provinces, we are receiving horrific reports of grave violations against children by parties to the conflict, including rape and other forms of sexual violence at levels surpassing anything we have seen in recent years.”
As the conflict escalates, reports indicate that hundreds of children have been separated from their families as they flee, leaving them vulnerable to increased violence. Additionally, children as young as 12 are being recruited or forced to take part in the fighting. UNICEF reports that over the past two weeks, more than 1,100 unaccompanied children have been identified in the two Kivu provinces.