The voices of the war-displaced children of the Kivus resonate strongly in hope and determination. In a unanimous cry for peace, these tormented young souls are calling for a return to tranquility in their communities ravaged by conflict. During a moving meeting with representatives of UN agencies and diplomats in Kinshasa, these children shared their poignant stories.
In the displaced persons camps, such as Mugunga and Don Bosco, life is a daily challenge for these children who yearn to return home, in the territories of Nyirangongo, Rutshuru and Masisi. Among them, Emmanuel-Jean Baziriki expresses with a trembling voice the ardent desire to return home, to the peace he has regained, to resume his path to school. His testimony resonates like a vibrant call to action to put an end to the suffering of the most vulnerable.
The National Fund for Reparations for Victims of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence has identified more than 100,000 victims in these war-torn camps. In the face of this worrying humanitarian crisis, it is urgent to provide direct and immediate support to these destitute populations.
UNICEF, through the voice of Mariame Sylla, promises essential support to ensure the protection and access to education of these children scarred by the horrors of war. The protection of their fragile identities is essential to enable these young people to rebuild their lives in a safe environment conducive to their development.
The poignant meeting of these displaced children from the Kivus with the President of the Republic testifies to the seriousness of the situation and the need to act quickly to put an end to this unbearable suffering. Their voice, a bearer of hope and resilience, must resonate in everyone’s heart to raise awareness of the urgency of working for peace and the dignity of all human beings, especially the most fragile among us.
Together, united in compassion and solidarity, we can transform these cries of distress into a hymn of peace and reconciliation, thus offering these displaced children of Kivu the promise of a better future, filled with light and hope.