Geneva: The United Nations has raised alarm over a surge in sexual violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, revealing that children, including toddlers, account for more than a third of nearly 10,000 reported cases within just the first two months of 2025.
According to UNICEF, the atrocities are part of a broader crisis fueled by conflict, with M23 rebel forces capturing significant areas in the east during a recent offensive. This has led to mass displacement and the deaths of thousands, many of them children.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder, speaking from Goma via video at a briefing in Geneva, stated that sexual violence is being systematically used as a weapon of war. He reported that such assaults are occurring, on average, every 30 minutes.
"This is not a matter of isolated cases. It’s a widespread, calculated campaign of terror," Elder said, noting that 35-45% of the victims are minors, based on data from local organizations tackling sexual violence.
Elder also highlighted the dire consequences of underfunded humanitarian support. In a hospital he visited, 127 rape survivors lacked access to essential medical kits that could prevent HIV infection if administered immediately after an assault.
"The lack of funding is costing lives," Elder warned, while also pointing out that although he did not delve into the exact causes of the funding shortfall in Congo, substantial cuts to U.S. foreign aid have affected similar humanitarian efforts worldwide.
