This press release reports on a second deadly landslide in five weeks at an artisanal coltan mine in Rubaya, North Kivu, eastern DRC, which has killed at least 56 children and is believed to have claimed more than 200 lives in total. Issued from Goma on 4 March 2026, the statement from World Vision condemns the recurring tragedy and highlights the dangerous working conditions in informal mining sites, where poverty and lack of alternatives force families, including children, to risk their lives. The organisation stresses that coltan, a key mineral used in mobile phones and other electronics, continues to fuel conflict and armed groups in the region. It calls for urgent humanitarian access, stronger child protection measures, sustainable economic alternatives for communities, and stricter regulation of the artisanal mining sector to prevent further loss of life.

Press release highlights the dangers faced by children and adults working in mines in North Kivu, DRC

Dolly Mudongo, a mother of seven from Khoma village, transformed her life through participation in a Saving and Internal Lending Community (SILC) supported by the GAINS Tuya Kumpala project. Previously struggling with unstable income and limited resources, she gained access to savings and small loans that allowed her to grow her soap-making business. Within months, her earnings increased, enabling her to meet her family’s basic needs and improve their food security. Today, Dolly enjoys greater financial stability and looks to the future with confidence, illustrating the impact of community-based savings groups in empowering vulnerable households.

In Kaungula, a group of farmers transformed their livelihoods through a Farmer Field School supported by the GAINS Tuya Kumpala program. Moving away from traditional, low-yield practices like bush burning, they adopted improved techniques, better seeds, and sustainable methods. Their first harvest—over 400 kg from a small plot—symbolized not just increased productivity but renewed confidence and collective success. The initiative is helping farmers boost food security, improve nutrition, and build more resilient, self-sustaining communities.

In this press release, World Vision expresses deep concern over a deadly landslide at the Rubaya artisanal mining site in Masisi, North Kivu, which has killed more than 200 people, including an estimated 70 children. Triggered by heavy rainfall, the tragedy highlights the extreme risks faced by communities already affected by conflict, displacement, and poverty. The press release underscores how poorly regulated mining and armed group control of mineral-rich areas continue to expose children to dangerous labour, exploitation, and loss of education, and calls for urgent humanitarian assistance alongside long-term action to address the root causes driving children into hazardous work.

This article tells the inspiring story of Jacqui Tshela, a young farmer in rural DR Congo who transformed her livelihood through improved agricultural practices learned in a Farmer Field School. After years of low yields and discouragement, she adopted new techniques and significantly increased her cassava production on a much smaller plot. Her success highlights how training, quality seeds, and community support can boost food security, restore hope, and empower vulnerable households.

In FY26 Q1, World Vision in the Democratic Republic of the Congo transitioned from costly VSAT internet services to Starlink to improve connectivity across its field operations. The move is expected to save more annually, allowing resources to be redirected to programmes that support vulnerable children and communities. Beyond cost savings, the new system provides faster, more reliable internet in remote areas, enabling better data collection, quicker reporting, stronger collaboration, and more efficient programme delivery.

A deadly landslide at the Safi artisanal mining site in Kakanda, Lualaba Province, has raised serious concerns about safety conditions in informal mining areas. The incident, which occurred on 11 March 2026 within the Boss Mining concession, claimed several lives, including that of a child, and highlighted the risks faced by artisanal miners working in unstable and poorly supervised environments. Initial findings point to factors such as heavy rains, unstable soil, steep slopes and inadequate drainage. The tragedy has prompted calls for stronger safety measures, improved oversight of artisanal mining activities and better protection for vulnerable workers and surrounding communities.

This article highlights how 622 women in North Kivu, DRC, received kits containing yards of cloth, tools, and essential items to rebuild their livelihoods and support their families. Through this initiative, women gain the means to start income-generating activities, empowering them economically while improving the well-being and stability of their children. The piece emphasises resilience, hope, and the transformative impact of targeted support for displaced and vulnerable communities.

This story highlights the urgent challenge of child hunger and education in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 29 million students are enrolled for the 2025–2026 school year, yet only a fraction benefit from school feeding programmes. Through the voices of Valence and Jean, two 11-year-old pupils at TCHABILWA Primary School in Kalemie, Tanganyika Province, the article brings statistics to life. For them, a hot meal at school is more than food; it is energy to learn, play, and dream. Their joy reflects the impact of World Vision’s school feeding programme, which reached 74,731 children in Kasai and Tanganyika during the 2025 fiscal year. The results are encouraging: school enrolment in supported schools has significantly increased, especially among girls. Yet the needs remain overwhelming. Attendance gaps, dropouts, and the millions of children still unreached reveal the scale of the crisis. Ultimately, the story is both hopeful and urgent, showing how a simple meal can keep a child in class, while calling for greater investment and partnerships to ensure that many more children across the DRC are not left behind