The phenomenon of displaced children, forced to beg in the streets of Kisangani, is a sad reality that highlights the extent of the precariousness faced by many vulnerable young people. These children, from the Mbole-Lemgola conflict, are left to their own devices, devoid of any support and forced to beg to survive. Julie, a little orphan met in the streets of the city, embodies this harsh reality by testifying to the loss of her parents and the hunger that grips her.
However, the street is not a suitable environment for these children in distress. Professor Alphonse Ediba warns of the dangers to which they are exposed in this unhealthy environment and calls for responsibility, both on the part of parents and the State. It is essential to protect these children and provide them with adequate supervision to keep them away from the risks they face on a daily basis.
The situation is all the more worrying given that the Mangobo National Orphanage, which is supposed to accommodate and care for vulnerable children, is now in an advanced state of disrepair, preventing it from fully carrying out its mission. Godefroid Yenga, head of the Provincial Division of Social Affairs, deplores this situation and stresses the importance of rehabilitating the orphanage in order to accommodate and educate street children.
Faced with this heartbreaking reality, it is urgent that concrete measures be taken to help these displaced children, offer them a safe environment and accompany them towards a more promising future. The mobilization of civil society, local authorities and humanitarian organizations is essential to address this humanitarian crisis and offer a glimmer of hope to these children who deserve a better future.