The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarming concerns about the exploitation of children, particularly in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). With armed groups, including Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, intensifying their operations, reports of rape and other sexual violence against children have surged. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell noted that some children as young as 12 are being coerced into joining the conflict. The situation has led to a five-fold increase in reported rape cases in just one week, indicating an urgent need for intervention as violence escalates, severely affecting vulnerable populations.
In 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.
One mother recounted to our staff how her six daughters, the youngest just 12 years old, were systematically raped by armed men while searching for food.
Thousands have been killed and tens of thousands more displaced, the UN has said, as the conflict in the mineral-rich region shows no signs of abating.
UNICEF's accusation came as the conflict in DRC continues, with the number of rape cases treated across 42 health facilities jumping five-fold in one week.
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