NGO sounds alarm on child safety during holidays in Walikale

The NGO Groupe d’action pour la protection de l’enfance (GAPE) has highlighted critical child protection challenges during school holidays in Walikale, North Kivu, a region plagued by security threats. Over the past ten days, the organization documented seven drownings and 56 cases of children being recruited by armed groups.

Bams Bayomba Mishiki, the coordinator for GAPE, detailed the dire situation. "Since June 28, we have documented 7 cases of drowning, 3 cases here in Walikale center in the Lowa and Kuya rivers, 2 cases in Hombo, and 1 case in the Makoma river in Byungu. In Pinga, there was 1 case. Also, before the end of the school year on July 2, we had already registered at least 56 children who had joined armed forces and groups," he stated.

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Since June 28, we have documented 7 cases of drowning, 3 cases here in Walikale center in the Lowa and Kuya rivers, 2 cases in Hombo, and 1 case in the Makoma river in Byungu. In Pinga, there was 1 case. Also, before the end of the school year on July 2, we had already registered at least 56 children who had joined armed forces and groups.

Mishiki described a significant abandonment of children during the extended summer break. To combat this, GAPE is actively sensitizing parents on child protection measures from July through September 2026. The presence of numerous mining sites in the region, which attract children, is seen as a factor exacerbating the problem.

"We are doing a lot of advocacy with political and administrative authorities: children's place is at school and with family, not in mining sites or armed groups," Mishiki emphasized. GAPE has established child-friendly spaces in Walikale-Centre, Hombo, and Itebero to provide activities and a safe environment for children during the holidays.

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We are doing a lot of advocacy with political and administrative authorities: children's place is at school and with family, not in mining sites or armed groups.