UNICEF has issued a warning over escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and its impact on children.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed and tens of thousands displaced in DRC as M23 rebels continue to attack and seize control of towns and villages.

In a statement on Thursday, UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell expressed deep concern over the devastating impact on children and families.

“In North and South Kivu provinces, we are receiving horrific reports of grave violations against children by parties to the conflict. These include rape and other forms of sexual violence at levels surpassing anything we have seen in recent years,” she said.

The crisis is spreading beyond the Kivus. In Ituri province, at least 28 children were among 52 people killed in a brutal attack in Djugu territory on Monday, according to Save the Children.

The attackers reportedly used machetes, guns, and fire, targeting families, including many women and children. Homes were burned to the ground, with some trapped inside.

With violence intensifying, UNICEF warns that child recruitment, abduction, and sexual violence are rapidly increasing.

During the week of  January 27 to February 2, when the Rwanda-backed M23 group captured the regional capital Goma, the number of rape cases treated at 42 UNICEF-supported health centres surged five-fold in just one week.

Children accounted for 30 per cent of those receiving treatment.

“The true figures are likely much higher because so many survivors are reluctant to come forward. Our partners are running out of the drugs used to reduce the risk of HIV infection after a sexual assault,” Ms Russell said.

At the same time, children are increasingly being separated from their families, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. In just two weeks, over 1,100 unaccompanied children were identified in North and South Kivu, with numbers continuing to rise.

Even before the latest escalation, child recruitment into armed groups was a major concern. A UN report last year documented at least 4,006 cases of children recruited or used by armed groups.

“Now, with parties to the conflict calling for the mobilisation of young fighters, recruitment rates will likely accelerate,” Ms Russell warned. She cited reports that children as young as 12 were being recruited or coerced into joining armed groups.

“Parties to the conflict must immediately cease and prevent grave rights violations against children. They must also take concrete measures to protect civilians and infrastructure critical to their survival in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law,” she urged.

(NAN)