As conflict rages on in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a chilling new reality has emerged: teams working with Doctors Without Borders and the DRC’s health ministry treated a staggering 25,166 victims of sexual violence in 2023, the highest number ever recorded in the country. This tragic statistic paints a grim picture of the unrelenting suffering faced by women and girls in the war-torn east of the country.
According to data from 17 projects set up in five provinces, victims were predominantly women and girls who received treatment in displacement camps near Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. This figure is all the more devastating considering that residents of eastern DRC have endured armed violence for decades, with over 120 groups vying for power, land, and mineral resources, or defending their communities. The brutal conflict has forcibly displaced an estimated 6 million people in the east.
Worryingly, this disturbing trend has persisted, with teams having treated a whopping 69 percent of the total numbers across 2023 in just the first five months of 2024. Human Rights Watch has added its voice to the growing concern, accusing both Rwanda and the Congo’s army of committing mass killings, rapes, and obstructing aid to those in need.
As the world watches this humanitarian crisis unfold, it is essential to recognize the urgent need for greater international support and action. The situation in the DRC serves as a harsh reminder of the devastating impact of armed conflict on vulnerable communities and the imperative to address these issues head-on.
