UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom made his first visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) this week, drawing attention to the escalating violence and mass displacement in the eastern part of the country. The conflict has pushed the number of grave violations against children towards an alarming peak.
Orlando Bloom Highlights Dire Conditions for Children in DRC
“The staggering scale of the conflict in eastern DRC, the horrific level of violence, and its devastating impact on the children and women I met is heart-wrenching,” said Bloom. “No child should live in the dire conditions I witnessed in displacement camps—separated from their families, hungry, unable to go to school, and constantly at risk of sexual abuse, violence, and exploitation.”
Five-Day Visit to Eastern DRC
Bloom spent five days in eastern DRC, visiting Goma in North Kivu and Bukavu in South Kivu. He met with children and women to learn firsthand about the considerable risks they face daily, including abduction, rape, other forms of sexual violence and abuse, recruitment and use by armed groups, and death.
Alarming Increase in Violations Against Children
The United Nations has verified over 1,000 grave violations against children in the three eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu during the first quarter of this year. This represents a 30% increase compared to the last quarter of 2023, with recruitment and use of children being most prevalent. In April 2024 alone, more than 450 grave violations against children were verified in the east.
“It’s a heartbreaking reality that children caught up in the conflict face abduction, recruitment and use by armed groups, violence and abuse – and we know the reports we have are only the tip of the iceberg,” said UNICEF DRC Representative Grant Leaity. “UNICEF calls on all parties to this conflict to work towards negotiation and solution for peace and an end to the grave violations against children, and for the perpetrators of violence against children and women to be held accountable.”
Support for Displaced Children
During his trip, Bloom visited a UNICEF-supported child-friendly space in the Bushagara displacement site near Goma. These safe environments provide structured and supervised play, recreation, psychosocial support, and individual case management. Social workers also identify vulnerable children, such as those separated from their families, ensuring they receive the necessary care and protection services.
In the last year, UNICEF has reunified over 9,000 children in eastern DRC with their families or placed them in temporary foster care. Additionally, UNICEF has assisted more than 400,000 children, adolescents, and caregivers with mental health and psychosocial support.
Stories of Hope and Resilience
“At the child-friendly space, I met very young children who have been separated from their families for more than two years due to displacement. They told me that they live in fear as the conflict unfolds around them and the violence grows closer,” said Bloom. “Yet, in these UNICEF-supported spaces, I saw hope as girls and boys found a place where they felt safe, where they could receive psychosocial support, dance and play, and enjoy being children. More spaces like these are necessary to protect their childhoods.”
Addressing Sexual Violence
Gender and conflict-based sexual violence against women and children remain persistently high. During a visit to Panzi Hospital and Panzi Foundation in South Kivu, Bloom spoke with health staff and caregivers about their work and met with survivors of sexual violence.
“The stories shared by girls and women who have survived harrowing sexual violence are utterly devastating,” said Bloom. “But, amidst the pain, I can see the difference that compassionate and dedicated support can make. Support, including healthcare, psychological support, and legal assistance, is helping survivors find the strength to rebuild their lives, but more needs to be done to protect every girl and woman.”
Urgent Humanitarian Needs
In eastern DRC, around 5 million people, including 2.8 million children, urgently need humanitarian assistance due to escalating violence and displacement. In response, UNICEF is providing education, health, including mental health and psychosocial support, nutrition, water and sanitation, and protection assistance to children, women, and families affected by the conflict. However, UNICEF’s humanitarian appeal for US$804.3 million is only 10% funded.
“Every day, children and women in DRC’s displacement camps face tremendous hardships. Their needs are overwhelming, and the response to the crisis is falling short. We must urgently unite to ensure they live in safety and dignity,” said Bloom.
For more information, visit UNICEF.
Image credit: © UNICEF/Vincent Tremeau UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom greets a child during a visit to the Bushagara site for internally displaced people in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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