A catastrophic humanitarian crisis is unfolding in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a child is being raped every 30 minutes as violence rages across the region, according to alarming new reports from UNICEF.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva today, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder revealed devastating statistics showing unprecedented levels of sexual violence against children in the conflict zone.
“The rate of sexual violence against children has never been higher,” Elder stated. “Reports from child protection actors show that children make up between 35 to 45 per cent of the nearly 10,000 cases of rape and sexual violence reported to protection actors in just January and February this year.”
Elder emphasized the systematic nature of these atrocities: “We are not talking about isolated incidents; we are talking about a systemic crisis. We are seeing survivors as young as toddlers. It is a weapon of war and a deliberate tactic of terror. And it destroys families and communities.”
The reported cases likely represent only a fraction of the actual incidents, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and insecurity in the conflict-torn region.
The crisis is compounded by severe funding shortages affecting essential humanitarian services. Elder recounted visiting a hospital where “127 survivors of rape had no access to PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) kits,” describing this as “a direct consequence of rapid funding cuts.”
He shared the heartbreaking story of a 13-year-old rape survivor who had to undergo a cesarean section due to her young age, quoting her words: “I am a girl. I don’t know how to be a mother.”
Without immediate funding intervention, UNICEF warns that 250,000 children will miss out on vital services for gender-based violence and protection in the next 12 weeks. The funding crisis threatens to reverse years of progress in child and maternal health, nutrition, education, and other key areas.
“In 2026 alone, our projections are that 100,000 children in the DRC will miss out on measles vaccinations. Nearly two million won’t be screened for malnutrition. Almost half a million will be left without enough safe water,” Elder warned.
Despite these challenges, Elder expressed hope when speaking about the dedication of local health workers, social workers, volunteers, and survivors themselves. He described meeting “dozens of volunteers—bright and relentless—who mobilise communities for vaccination, and go online to dismantle dangerous fake news,” along with health staff who remained with survivors “even as chaos spread, prisons emptied, and police disappeared.”
He concluded with a powerful message from child survivors themselves: “If we stay quiet about rape, there is no justice, and we don’t heal.”
The UNICEF spokesperson called for urgent action, including increased prevention efforts, survivor-centred services, and accountability for perpetrators, emphasizing that “what they all need – health workers, social workers, and children – is one thing: opportunity. That’s the spark. But for opportunity to light real change, it must come with peace, and with funding.”
