Children caught up as conflict widens in the eastern DR Congo

In the neonatal unit of Virunga General Referral Hospital, 18-day-old Faraja lies in intensive care, his tiny ear bandaged from a stray bullet that pierced his incubator during the recent fighting in Goma. His mother, Amani, stands by his side. "There were two babies in the incubator," she recalls. "But the bullet hit my child. He is still receiving care, but I’m afraid this could happen again. We need peace."

Faraja's story is just one of many that highlight the dire situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where a rapid expansion in the conflict has plunged the region into the sort of violence and grave violations against children not seen for many years.

Since the start of 2025, the situation in eastern DRC has deteriorated rapidly, with the capture of major strategic towns like Goma and Bukavu. This has led to massive internal displacement, around a million people moving in a month, some to flee fighting and others as existing displacement sites closed. 

UNICEF is deeply concerned by the significant increase in reports of grave violations against children. The number of incidents has tripled from December since the latest escalation of violence which began on 24 January 2025.

During this period, data reveals that cases of sexual violence have risen by more than two and a half times, abductions have increased sixfold, killing and maiming is up sevenfold, and attacks on schools and hospitals have multiplied by 12. In late January, UNICEF delivered emergency medical kits to several hospitals in Goma to treat more than 50,000 people affected by the intensification of conflict in east.

In the fighting in Goma, between 26 and 30 January 2025, almost 3,000 people sought medical assistance in Goma, many of them children. The government estimates around 7,000 people have been killed so far. The Virunga General Referral Hospital, supported by UNICEF, has been overwhelmed with cases of sexual violence and injuries. This included at least 45 child survivors of sexual violence and 70 injured children under the age of 5 were referred to the hospital for specialist care.

Cynthia, a 14-year-old girl, and her younger sister were injured in a bomb blast. "My little sister and I were in the living room when a bomb fell," said Cynthia. "I hurt my hand, and my little sister injured her foot. The young people in our neighbourhood helped us get here." Both sisters are receiving free medical care and psychosocial support thanks to UNICEF.

The conflict has severely impacted health services in the region. "The number of people injured by firearms has increased,” said Dr. Beate Bahati, chief of staff at Virunga General Referral Hospital. “In the maternity ward, there was an increase in cases of threatened premature delivery and premature births. We had effects that were not really good, because there were women who wanted to reach us in time for childbirth. Given the state in which the city was, it was difficult, but we were able to save them, they came just in time.”

The education system has also been severely affected. More than 2,500 schools and learning spaces in North Kivu and South Kivu were closed, depriving 795,000 children of education.

“My greatest wish is that my children will be able to go to school and grow up to be great people," said Ruth Musumba, mother of three including Cynthia. "A bomb fell on our house, injuring the children. I took them to the hospital. When we got there, there were doctors, but not enough medicines. It was only after two days that the children could be treated. Today, I live in fear. I'm afraid of bullets, bombs, I'm afraid to stay outside.”

"I'm asking the rest of the world to pray for us, because we're living in very difficult conditions. We've lost our taste for life in the Congo because of the wars.”