By James Tasamba
KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Around 78,000 children have been forced to flee their homes in the past week due to escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with thousands now on the road to Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province, Save the Children said on Thursday.
Renewed fighting between the Congolese army and M23 rebels has displaced at least 150,000 people, more than half of them children, since Feb. 2, the humanitarian group said in a statement.
“It is imperative to act with urgency and determination to break the cycle of suffering of these innocent lives,” it said.
“Parents have reported that many children have been separated in the violence, although the number of lost children remains unknown.”
The global charity decried the use of artillery, drones, and explosives which it said are killing and injuring civilians and damaging and destroying essential infrastructure.
“The rights and well-being of children in the DRC must be a priority. They cannot continue to be caught in the crossfire, "it said.
It called for stronger and more coherent systems to hold perpetrators of crimes affecting children to account.
Clashes erupted in the past week between M23 rebels and the Congolese army in the North Kivu province, forcing thousands of citizens to flee their homes this week to Goma.
Kinshasa accuses neighboring Rwanda Kigali of backing M23 rebels since its resurgence in November 2021, a charge it denies.