In the rural commune of Kanyabayonga, located in the territory of Lubero in North Kivu, a delicate situation is looming: several schools accommodate displaced people forced to flee clashes between the armed forces (FARDC) and the M23 rebels in neighboring areas of Rutshuru and Masisi. Students from primary schools in Vuvogho, Rwindi, Amani, Maendeleo, as well as those from the Furaha Institute, now share their classrooms with these displaced populations.
The daily lives of these students are turned upside down, with the displaced temporarily freeing the classrooms in the morning for the students, before reoccupying them after classes. This forced cohabitation disrupts the normal functioning of schools, endangering the quality of the education provided.
According to Colonel Alain Kiwewa, administrator of the Lubero territory, the situation of the displaced is alarming: “Some of them live with host families, in churches, and others have taken over the schools of Kanyabayonga. These people find themselves in extremely difficult living conditions, especially since in Kanyabayonga there is a major water supply problem.”
The rural commune of Kanyabayonga currently has a significant number of displaced people, mainly women and children, including some pregnant women. These individuals fled the clashes in the localities of Kirima, Somikivu, Bwalanda, Kibingu and Kibirizi, and are urgently calling for humanitarian intervention to meet their basic needs.
This situation highlights the urgency of providing appropriate assistance to these vulnerable populations, while highlighting the challenges facing schools in the Kanyabayonga region. It is crucial that authorities and humanitarian organizations act in concert to respond to this humanitarian crisis and ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for all children in the region.