Child in Democratic Republic of Congo
Where we work

Democratic Republic of Congo

Reintegrating children who have escaped armed groups into their communities, youth-led advocacy, and sustainable livelihoods are at the core of what we do for children in the DRC.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the hardest places on earth to be a child.  

Decades of corruption, armed conflict, and lack of investment, combined with the effects of natural disasters and recurrent outbreaks of cholera, measles, and Ebola, have left millions of people in extreme poverty. The country has been in a humanitarian crisis for decades and the situation on the ground is only expected to worsen. 

Education remains a country-wide challenge, with access to schools a particular problem for children living in conflict-affected areas. Widespread displacement caused by conflict and insecurity is forcing desperate families to make impossible choices, primarily affecting women and children. Between January and September 2021 alone, over 74,000 cases of sexual violence were reported, with women and girls accounting for 94% of these. 

Recruitment of children and young people into armed groups also remains widespread in the DRC. In addition, hundreds of children and youth who had accepted to leave armed groups in 2020 and 2021 are still waiting for some form of support towards reintegration. In the absence of alternatives, they are at increasing risk of returning to armed groups. 

Scale of the challenge

  • 27 M

    People are acutely food insecure - the highest number worldwide.

  • 2.4 M

    Children under the age of five are acutely severely malnourished.

  • 5.5 M

    People internally displaced, mainly due to conflict and insecurity.

Our work in the DRC 

War Child began working in the DRC in 2004, delivering critical child protection, sexual violence and livelihoods support to the most vulnerable children and their families. Today, War Child’s programmes are in North Kivu (Masisi and Goma). We are committed to reaching the most vulnerable children including those who have been separated from their families, recruited by armed groups, or experienced sexual violence. 

In 2022, War Child is seeking to:  

 

Support our work in the DRC

With the situation in the DRC only set to worsen, War Child's work with children and their families is more urgent than ever.

Please, help us to be there for those that need us most when they need us most.

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Reintegrating children who have escaped armed groups into their communities, youth-led advocacy, and sustainable livelihoods are at the core of what we do for children in the DRC.