Far too many children in eastern DR Congo are at extreme risk of sexual violence, kidnapping and recruitment by armed groups
Children are hungry. Water is at risk of contamination. Health, education and protection services are gradually collapsing. The crisis is getting worse, and vulnerable children and their families can’t wait any longer.
Your support can mean the difference between life and death in DRC
There are currently 4.4 million people, including 2 million children, on the move in the three eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This is contributing to a wider crisis where more than 3.8 million children urgently need help.
In 2025, sexual violence reached levels not seen in decades, the cholera outbreak is the worst in 25 years, and millions of people do not have enough to eat on a regular basis.
DRC Dec 2025 Carousel
Neema holds her one-year-old daughter, Prisca, who was diagnosed with malnutrition at the Shari displacement site in Bunia, Ituri province. With support from partners, UNICEF is helping families stay safe and supported — offering psychosocial care, child-friendly spaces and protection services at IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) sites. Through the UNICEF Rapid Response (UniRR), families also receive urgent help such as shelter, basic household items, healthcare and nutrition support.
A bomb shattered 7-year-old Justine’s community in early 2025. “A bomb fell on our neighbour’s house… my friend was injured, his brother died. I saw everything — sometimes I still have nightmares,” she says, the trauma still with her. With support from “Education Cannot Wait” and the European Union, UNICEF is helping more than 14,000 children in eastern DR Congo return to school — providing kits, rehabilitating classrooms and planting trees to restore their environment.
13-year-old Alema is being examined by a doctor at a UNICEF-supported Mpox treatment centre. Alema fell ill shortly after his brother showed symptoms. “At first, we didn’t know what it was. When I started feeling the same, we realised he had passed it on to me,” he says. Since arriving at the centre, Alema has received proper care and learned how to protect himself and others. “I’m grateful for the help. I just want to get better and return to school — I’ve already missed so much.”
Merveille, 17, collects water from a lake in her neighborhood in Goma, North Kivu province. The violence in Goma has made water access a major challenge, forcing families to rely on unsafe sources, increasing disease risks. In response, UNICEF and partners set up 30+ water chlorination points to protect the population.
During the violent armed clashes, a bullet pierced the roof and hit Faraja’s incubator. The bullet grazed part of his ear, but thanks to the doctors' intervention, he survived and continues to receive medical care. "There were two babies in the incubator, but the bullet hit my child. My child is still receiving care, but I’m afraid this could happen again. We need peace", says Amani.
Every day, innocent children and their families are caught in the middle of violence and displacement.
With your support, every donation directly contributes to life-saving services that protect and nurture children in one of the world's most vulnerable regions.
Your donation can provide:
- Protection services: Safeguarding vulnerable children from violence and exploitation.
- Medical care: Supplying essential medications and treating severely malnourished children.
- Clean water and sanitation: Ensuring safe drinking water to prevent disease outbreaks.
- Education services: Offering hope through access to learning despite the chaos.
Got questions? We've got answers:
Your donation supports UNICEF’s work for children across West and Central Africa and beyond.
UNICEF encourages monthly donations to help us deliver sustainable, long-term solutions for children both in the region and globally.
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You can securely make a one-time and/or a monthly donation, on this page, by clicking on the donation buttons. Please select the donation amount that you want to give, then continue with the next steps to finish your donation.
No donation is too small, and any donation can help save children's lives.
You choose for how long you wish to donate: monthly or only once. In order to contribute to a fundamental change in the lives of vulnerable children, the longer you choose to get involved, the more powerful your donation will be. Vulnerable children’s lives can improve if you are a part and contribute to the work that we are doing, and to the solutions that we are providing. By donating, you become an active part of the solution and of the change process.
A monthly donation is a recurring gift amount that you choose to send each month, and it is even more impactful, as this means that you'll be helping children every single day.
Your monthly gift will also enable us to plan effectively in our upcoming work, reduce costs and most importantly, reach even more children in need. The support and generosity of monthly donors contribute significantly to UNICEF's efforts to help vulnerable children.
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At the moment, UNICEF does not offer individual child sponsorship. Instead, your donation supports a wide range of essential programmes that protect all children: access to safe water and sanitation, nutrition and treatment for malnutrition, vaccinations, education, child protection, and emergency humanitarian assistance. This approach ensures that your contribution reaches the most vulnerable children across Senegal, West and Central Africa, and beyond – wherever the needs are greatest.
For more information or any questions, contact us at [email protected]. We are here to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have.