Global Courant 2023-05-10 01:03:20
Download logo
More than 150 schools in North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been attacked by armed groups in escalating violence since early January, affecting the education of more than 62,000 children, Save the Children said.
Armed groups have targeted schools, often burning desks and chairs like firewood, leaving children without a safe place to learn.
More than 150 schools out of a total of approximately 6,800 schools** in the province have been attacked. Eighteen schools are currently occupied by armed groups and 113 schools are used as temporary shelters for internally displaced persons, according to data from the DRC Education Cluster, which is led by the Ministry of Education, Save the Children and UNICEF.
North Kivu is one of the most conflict-ridden provinces in the country. In the past year, nearly a million people have been internally displaced as a result of violent clashes. Conflict has raged in parts of the country for nearly three decades, and children are paying the heaviest price.
The attacks on schools in the DRC are having a devastating impact on children’s education, with about 4% of schools occupied or rendered unusable.
Alphonsine*, 13, from Nyiragongo, North Kivu, left her village six months ago and now lives in a displaced persons camp. Her school is currently occupied by armed groups. She said:
“One day I met our school principal and two of my friends in the camp. The principal said our school was destroyed by bombs. The armed people who occupied our school took away the doors and windows to sell. The director told us that we will not take over the school until the war is over.”
Save the Children supports schools through partners in North Kivu with building repairs, teacher training, school kits, menstrual hygiene items and money transfers for vulnerable families. Four of the organization’s partner schools have been attacked by armed groups.
Juliana*, 27, is a teacher at a Save the Children partner school in North Kivu, she said:
“Our school has been a battlefield. All wooden school materials and benches were used as firewood by the armed groups that occupied our school. Students and teachers left the villages for safer places. I hope things calm down so I can get back to work. I miss my students.”
Marc*, 45, is principal of a Save the Children partner school in North Kivu, he said:
“When I think of all the support that Save the Children has given to our school, and now that almost everything has been destroyed, I am saddened. Doors and windows taken from classrooms, school materials burned, these gunmen attack the future of the children. I ask the authorities to secure our environment, including schools, so that the right to education is always guaranteed.”
In addition to the damage to schools during attacks, countless children across the country are unable to attend school as they flee violence and live in camps or makeshift shelters, including school buildings.
Save the Children supports displaced families with food aid, water, children’s clubs and health support.
Alphonsine* added:
“When I fled, I only brought a sweater to protect myself from the cold. My clothes, notebooks and school backpack were left behind.
“I come every day to the Child Friendly Space that Save the Children has created. We do karaoke, we play many other games. I like coming to space because I feel free. There is also food and we get soaps or wipes to clean.”
The DRC is one of the world’s most complex and protracted humanitarian crises, with 14.2 million urgently need help.
Amavi Akpamagbo, Country Director Save the Children in DRC said:
“This year in North Kivu has seen a surprising increase in violent attacks against communities, including schools, and as a result, children’s right to education is under threat. Save the Children calls on warring parties to locate their camps, storage and training sites away from schools, and calls on the DRC government to include school safety in upcoming peace talks.”
Save the Children has been working in the DRC since 1994 to address humanitarian needs related to the mass displacement of populations caused by armed conflict in the eastern provinces, in particular in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri and Kasai -Oriental and Lomami in the center of the country. .
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.
This press release is issued by APO. The content is not checked by the African Business editors and none of the content has been checked or validated by our editors, proofreaders or fact-checkers. The publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
