The extreme toll that the fighting in the Congo has taken on children is only beginning to emerge. In all conflict children are the hardest hit, but the severity of the situation in the Congo highlights the country's ability to handle the capacity of those affected.
Children who have either been orphaned or lost in the fighting rest at the Don Bosco Ngangi center in Goma, Congo, in the photo to the left, are some of the lucky ones. Despite of having the world's largest UN peacekeeping force, the fighting in the eastern region of the country has displaced at least 250,000 since late August alone. Fighting has not only left hundreds of children have been orphaned, and thousands more lost from their families, displacement and an inablity to access schools are also a heavy burden placed on children.
Those children who have lost parents while fleeing to the IDP camps are often left to fend for themselves as themselves; many left with only the clothing on their backs, and now run unguided and barefoot through the camps. In addition to the lack of supervision and care in the camps, there are no schools.
“The military came in. I was afraid,” she said. “I hid next to the radio tower. My parents said, ‘Go, we’ll come after you.’ I went along the road and I didn't see them again (AP).”
According to UNICEF the fighting has forced most schools in Rutshuru territory to close, causing an estimated 150,000 children to be forced out of the classroom. “Since violence intensified two weeks ago, 85 percent of the 310 schools in the territory have suspended classes, while school buildings have been occupied by displaced civilians and the Congolese army (IRIN).”
The heavy fighting has left aid agencies forced out of areas, leaving them unable to reach IDPs. Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda's promises to provide safe passage for aid agencies has fallen short as few supply trucks have been willing or able to make the journey through the fighting to reach those in need. Leaving children with little to no food or shelter, let alone medical attention.
In addition to the continual suffering of children due to the ripple effects of conflict, the recruitment of child soldiers is once again on the rise, and looks only to continue to heighten. Much of the sharp increase is only aided by the closing of schools and the displacement of children from their parents, as they are even more susceptible to recruitment. Figures for the countries child soldiers had begun to drop in recent years to some 3,000, however their current estimates, while unknown, remain substantially higher.
As the fighting continues the lives of all the Congo's children hang in the balance, until peacekeeping forces and opposition sides can reach a stable peace agreement.
