UN Confirms M23 Rebels Killed Children in DR Congo
The humanitarian emergency in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has rapidly worsened, with serious human rights violations and persecution, including the killing of children and widespread sexual violence.
Source: UN / Images:UN Radio Okapi
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) confirmed on Tuesday that the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group killed three children in Bukavu, a city in South Kivu province. M23 fighters took control of the city on Sunday. OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani stated, “Our office has verified cases where M23 fighters killed children after entering Bukavu last week. We also know that the children were armed.”
She added, “We call on Rwanda and M23 to ensure respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.”The OHCHR spokesperson condemned attacks on hospitals, humanitarian aid warehouses, and threats against the judiciary, which are directly linked to M23’s rapid advance in North and South Kivu.
Displacement to Burundi
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has displaced millions in the eastern region within weeks. In just a few days, between 10,000 and 15,000 people have crossed into neighboring Burundi. Most of those arriving in Burundi are Congolese, primarily from Bukavu’s outskirts, where the situation is deteriorating.
UNHCR spokesperson Matt Saltmarsh noted that over 91,000 refugees and asylum seekers from the DRC had fled to Burundi decades ago, and the new displaced individuals are joining them. “The situation in eastern DRC remains highly challenging and unstable. Recent clashes in South Kivu have forced over 150,000 people to flee,” he said. “At least 85,000 of them are living in newly established displacement sites, where access to basic services like water, shelter, and healthcare is severely limited.”
