“Child was raped every half hour” in two months in Eastern Dr. Cong: UN | Conflict news

Up to 45 percent of almost 10,000 cases of sexual violence reported in the conflict of the DRC in January and February included children, according to UNICEF.

The United Nations condemned broad rape and sexual violence against children in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported in the first two months of this year Reinforced tensions Between the M23 and Government’s Armed Group.

The United Nations Children’s Spokesman UNICEF, James Elder, warned Friday that the rate of sexual violence in the DRC against children “was never higher.”

“Early reports show that children make up between 35 and 45 percent of almost 10,000 cases of rape and sexual violence reported … in just January and February this year,” told reporters in Geneva, speaking from Goma.

“In short, based on the initial data … during the most intense phase of this year’s conflict in the East DRC, the child was raped every half hour,” he explained.

After the fall of the Genocide Rwanda in 1994. year, the DRC was belonged by violence as rebel groups and government forces.

However, the conflict escalated in January after the M23 fighters progressed rapidly, accelerated the eastern city of Goma and the city of Bukav in February.

At least 3,000 people were killed, and more displaced from the eastern territory, encourage the fears of a wider regional war.

Moreover, the UN and Western governments accused Rwanda Support M23 and provided a group of weapons, which Kigali denied.

‘System crisis’

ELDER warned the recent initiation of violence against children is not an isolated incident due to conflicts, but the “system crisis”.

“It is a weapon of war and deliberate tactics of terror.” He also destroys the community, “he said, emphasizing that the figures could be” just the tip of the iceberg, hidden under the layers of fear, stigma and insecurity. ”

He said this “should be inherited in our core. It should certainly collect an emergency and collective action.”

The UN officer called on more efforts and “services focused on survivors” that enable a safe and available way to “report abuse without fear.”

“The survivors must see the world standing with them, they don’t turn. And the perpetrators must face justice,” he called.