Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
- In North and South Kivu, 5,927 schools remain closed resulting in almost 2,000,000 children with no access to education (Education cluster – 7 March).
- There have been more than 2 million forced returns in the Kivus, among them 830,000 children, according to the Commission on Population Movement.
- More than 4 million people, including 1.7 million children, are internally displaced in South and North Kivu as reported by the Commission on Population Movement.
- Some 33 health facilities in North Kivu and 15 facilities in South Kivu have been destroyed.
SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
During this reporting period, heavy fighting continued in North Kivu province (Masisi, Walikale, Rutshuru and Lubero territories) and South Kivu province (South and West of Bukavu), provoking new displacements, and increasing the humanitarian needs of the population due to the destruction of basic public infrastructure, loss of land and houses.
According to OCHA, between 7 and 9 March 2025, clashes between M23, FARDC and its allies the “Wazalendos” (“patriots”) in Katale and Masisi areas, resulted in the death of at least 11 civilians and 150,000 persons newly displaced. The Commission on Population Movement indicated that by 7 February 2025 there are 4.14 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces with approximately 2.29 million in North Kivu.
With the expansion of M23, there has been constant movements of displaced populations forced to return to their areas of origin. In Masisi territory, it is estimated that 78,000 persons returned to different areas of this territory. The Commission on Population Movement estimated that by 7 February 2025, 2,074,000 people were “forced” to return within the Kivus with approximately 1.89 million in North Kivu province. Among them, it is estimated that around 830,000 are children. In Goma, after the dismantlement of 90 per cent of the IDP sites, approximately 10,258 persons are still hosted in 46 reception centers, while around 1,000 persons remain in the former IDP sites of Rusayo 2 and 8eme CEPAC. Those IDPs are living in dire situation with almost no access to WASH infrastructure, or other essential services (source: Commission on Population Movement North Kivu 14 February 2025).
After the seizure of large parts of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces by M23, pockets of resistance have launched deadly attacks, such as on February 27, 2025, during a meeting between M23/AFC fighters and the population in Bukavu, causing the death of at least 11 civilians and injuring around 60 people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 7,500 people have been injured both in North Kivu and South Kivu since the beginning of the crisis. The actual number of causalities are not well documented; however, data collection is ongoing in North Kivu.
In addition to M23, other Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) including Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), and Zaire in North Kivu and Ituri provinces continue pursuing deadly attacks towards civilians, resulting in the displacement of populations. Between 7 and 14 March 2025, at least 22 persons were reportedly killed in Masakoshi, Ngoyi and Kasiyiro zones in greater North Kivu province. On March 10, 2025, 13 civilians were killed in an attack attributed to ADF in Ngohi village in Lubero territory, North Kivu.
In Ituri province, early March 2025, a deadly ADF incursion in Mambasa territory displaced populations. The arrival of Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) in Bunia and Djugu territories at the request of the DRC government, and setting up bases in in Bunia and Mahagi zones far from the ADF zone of influence outside the framework of the joint operation with the Congolese army against the ADF raises questions and concerns. Additionally, the emergence of new armed groups linked to the M23 and new alliances between M23 and different armed groups such as the ZAIRE is also a source of concern.
The violation of international humanitarian law is highly concerning. In Goma, between 1 and 3 March 2025, several health centers were targeted by armed groups including Rusamambu health center in Walikale territory that was looted depriving more than 11,000 persons access to medical assistance. Humanitarian access is dramatically affected by shifting frontlines; new administrative constraints in M23 controlled territories emerged, coupled with difficulties in cross border movement between zones controlled by M23 and government-controlled territories. With the closure of Goma airport, the delivery of humanitarian supplies is a challenge to which the humanitarian community is mitigating through long detours to project sites often via neighboring countries.
In South Kivu, access to some health zones where cholera cases are dramatically increasing remains a challenge. One of UNICEF’s implementing partners for cholera Case-Area Targeted Interventions (CATI) was stopped in Katogota zone and denied access to Ruzizi and Uvira territories. To address this, UNICEF DRC country office requested the support from the UNICEF Burundi country office. The Burundi country office provided 10 tonnes of medical supplies for cholera management.
With the upsurge in conflict in Eastern DRC, grave violations against children continue to rise at an alarming rate. On average, the number of reported incidents continues to be three times higher compared to December 2024, before the ongoing escalation of violence in January 2025. More specifically, girls continued to be primarily targeted by parties to the conflict since rape and sexual violence was the most reported grave child rights violation, followed by child abduction and recruitment and use.
In South Kivu, verified cases of rape and sexual violence multiplied 10-fold compared to the second half of February 2025, while those related to killing and maiming of children doubled. In North Kivu, verified cases of abductions of children, notably for recruitment and use continued rising and represented more than 50 per cent of the total number of verified grave violations, while attacks on schools and hospitals increased to represent more than ¼ of all verified violations in the province.
Recruitment and use of children by parties to the conflict in North and South Kivu remain of great concern, while the ongoing mobilization of youth by parties to the conflict across the country continues to require constant monitoring due to risks of recruitment and use of children.
Explosive remnants from clashes still pose risks to children, especially near or within schools, and the ongoing occupation of schools by armed groups and IDPs continues to limit children’s access to education services, nutrition services and child-friendly spaces. Despite calls from authorities in February 2025 to reopen schools, by 7 March, 5,927 schools remained closed, resulting in almost 2,000,000 children with no access to education in North Kivu and South Kivu.
Considering the dramatic humanitarian situation in Eastern DRC, the freeze of USAID support, and the worldwide trend of decreasing funds for humanitarian aid, poses a dramatic risk for the millions of civilians who depend on humanitarian aid.