** Kalehe in South Kivu: between forced displacement and interrupted education, a desperate call for humanitarian aid **
In the territory of Kalehe, province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the situation of the displaced war takes an alarming turn. While the country is struggling to recover from the consequences of repeated armed conflicts, schools, sanctuaries of knowledge and education, become involuntary shelters for thousands of people in search of safety and assistance. The situation in Mbinga-Sud illustrates this human tragedy, while schools welcome whole families, to the detriment of children who should learn and build a future.
### The displaced crisis: an alarming phenomenon
The Mbinga-Nord group, where these displaced people come from, was the scene of violence that forced the inhabitants to flee. This internal trip phenomenon is a tragedy increased tenfold by the lack of adequate humanitarian response. According to the United Nations Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs Coordination (OCHA), the DRC has nearly 6 million internal displaced people, placing the country at the heart of one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world. This observation echoes the desperate call of Jeremy Shanvu, president of the Kalehe environmental civil society, who urges the international community to act quickly in order to end this critical situation.
Statistically, the province of South Kivu is home to around 600,000 of the 5.6 million internal displaced people accumulated in 2022 and the situation in Kalehe only acts these figures. The living conditions of the displaced in schools are not only precarious; They are often coupled with major health risks. The lack of drinking water and adequate health structures promotes the spread of water diseases, thus amplifying the despair of those who live in these emergency situations.
### The educational and social impact on children
The occupation of schools by the displaced does not only compromise access to education; It also places immense pressure on children who no longer attend classes. According to recent studies, education interruptions during periods of crisis can have long -term consequences on children’s lives, reducing their chances of getting out of poverty and impacting their cognitive development. The children of this region, already faced with educational challenges due to the general conflict context, are now deprived of access to education, a situation which can lead to a cycle of perpetual poverty.
It is also crucial to note that education represents more than just school learning; It constitutes a fundamental pillar for community resilience. By depriving children of this opportunity, communities lose the possibility of forging a generation capable of rebuilding and improving their environment. A study by UNICEF revealed that each additional year of education can help increase the potential for future income for children from 10 to 20%.
### a necessary and urgent humanitarian response
The call for humanitarian aid, launched by civil society actors, highlights the inadequacy of international responses in the face of this crisis. Lighting them in length, punctual actions are often insufficient in an environment where long -term emergency and planning should go hand in hand. Assistance culminates not only around sending food and medication, but also the implementation of psychosocial support systems, reflecting on solutions for the reintegration of displaced people in their original communities once the peace returned.
The creation of humanitarian corridors and temporary rescue centers could not only alleviate pressure on schools, but also promote an integrated approach to this crisis. NGOs such as Médecins Sans Frontières and the Red Cross must also intensify their operations and associate with local actors to deploy lasting and targeted support.
### Conclusion
Within this multidimensional crisis, it is essential not to lose sight of the rights and well-being of the displaced, while keeping in mind the devastating impact of conflicts on the education of children. The international community, as well as the Congolese authorities, must unite their efforts to straighten this critical situation. The cries of appeal to Kalehe are not only crying of the displaced, but an appeal to the collective conscience of nations to act and restore human dignity. The global community cannot remain deaf while education and the future of an entire generation are at stake.
To this end, the voice of Fatshimetrics must be heard: solidarity is essential and each gesture counts to restore hope to the forgotten of the war.