Impact of Conflict in Eastern DRC: Over 1 Million Schoolchildren Affected
The ongoing violence in eastern DRC has resulted in the closure of 2,594 schools, affecting over 1.1 million schoolchildren due to the actions of M23 rebels. The safety of students remains at risk, with many schools becoming uninhabitable or converted for military use. The conflict has claimed more than 7,000 lives this year alone.
The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing severe conflict that has adversely impacted education, with over 1.1 million schoolchildren affected. As reported by the authorities, 2,594 schools have been closed due to the violence perpetrated by M23 rebels, particularly in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. In North Kivu alone, 1,483 schools are closed, while 1,111 closures are reported in South Kivu.
The Education Ministry has stated that the reopening of schools poses significant challenges due to safety concerns arising from explosive devices being found in the vicinity of certain schools. Moreover, numerous educational institutions have either been bombed, destroyed, or repurposed as military bases by armed factions. The ministry highlighted that this conflict targets the future generation, with schools even witnessing horrific transformations, as seen in one instance where a school was converted into a cemetery.
Since December, the M23 group has expanded its territorial dominance in eastern Congo, having seized control of key provincial capitals including Goma and Bukavu. Tragically, the ongoing violence has claimed the lives of over 7,000 individuals this year alone, as stated by Congo’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka during a presentation to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The conflict in eastern DRC has led to a significant humanitarian crisis, particularly within the education sector. The closure of nearly 2,600 schools due to violence and safety concerns threatens the future of over a million children. Ongoing hostilities by armed groups such as M23 have resulted in profound loss of life, underscoring the urgent need for international attention and resolution to this escalating conflict.
Original Source: www.aa.com.tr
