Children Recruited And Executed As Violence Escalates in Eastern DRC

• Children being used as combatants – a grave violation of international law
• Adolescent girls at increased risk of rape –129 rape cases reported by displaced in recent weeks
• Looting of food aid from facilities leading to increased risk of starvation for many

Wednesday, 19th February 2025- Children in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are being forcibly recruited, armed, and executed in a horrifying escalation of violence.  The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has confirmed cases of summary execution of children by M23 forces following their entry into Bukavu last week. The UNHRC report also indicates that children have been used as combatants—a grave violation of international humanitarian and human rights law. World Vision strongly condemns these atrocities and calls for urgent international action to protect the lives and rights of children.

Aline Napon, World Vision DRC National Director said:

 “The forced recruitment and execution of children is an appalling crime that must be taken extremely seriously. Children are not soldiers. They must be protected, not exploited, abused, or killed.”

In South Kivu, the current situation has displaced thousands; leaving millions of children at risk of violence, exploitation, and deprivation. The conflict is stripping children of their future—denying them of education, exposing them to severe trauma, and increasing the risk of sexual violence and forced labour.

“The Education Cluster report of 14 February 2025 confirms that at least 80 schools have been vandalised and 17 others occupied as shelters in North Kivu, depriving nearly 493,461 children in North Kivu and 301,719 children in South Kivu of their right to education. Since the beginning of the year, more than 2,500 schools and learning spaces have been forced to close in North and South Kivu. Schools should be safe havens for children, yet they are being destroyed or occupied, leaving children even more vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups.” Said Ms Napon.

The situation for girls is dire. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports a shocking rise in conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), with 129 cases of rape recorded among displaced persons in recent weeks. Adolescent girls are particularly at risk, facing increased threats of exploitation, early pregnancy, and long-term trauma.

“The emotional toll on children cannot be ignored, we are seeing an entire generation of Congolese children being destroyed by war, violence, and displacement” , said Patrick Saah, Director of Programmes at World Vision.

In recent days, the humanitarian situation has worsened significantly, with widespread looting of emergency food stocks and supplies. The World Food Programme (WFP) has lost 7,000 tonnes of food aid in Bukavu, leaving hundreds of thousands of people at risk of starvation. As a WFP distribution partner, World Vision is alarmed by the long-term impact this will have on already vulnerable families, as essential food aid is lost, and the threat of hunger deepens.

“Attacks on humanitarian offices are a serious violation of international humanitarian law, and we condemn, in the strongest possible terms, any violence directed against staff and the theft of assets used to deliver humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable. Hundreds of thousands of people impacted by the conflict are currently relying upon humanitarian support to survive. All parties must respect the work of NGOs like World Vision and allow us to support DRC’s most vulnerable children” Saah added.

World Vision urgently appeals to all parties in the conflict to cease the recruitment and killing of children and to ensure the safe access of humanitarian aid by protecting aid workers, restoring looted supplies, and allowing relief distributions. International human rights and humanitarian law must be upheld, and the safety of children, families, and aid workers must be prioritised.

End. –

Notes to editor

SPOKESPEOPLE AVAILABLE:

Aline Napon , National Director:   Aline_Napon@wvi.org

David Munkley, East Zone Director:   David_Munkley@wvi.org

Patrick Saah, SHR Director:   Patrick_Saah@wvi.org

To request an interview, please contact Farida_Eliaka@wvi.org or Niamh_cooper@wvi.org

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice.  World Vision serves everyone regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

For more information, please visit www.wvi.org