07/08/2006

In the province of South Kivu, as is the case throughout much of eastern DRC, homes, villages, markets, fields, health structures and schools have been looted and often destroyed, leaving children without access to basic services or shelter. Lack of education in DRC is chronic. The number of children out of primary school in DRC approaches 4.7 million including, 2.5 million girls. Thousands of children in the South Kivu are often seen collecting firewood, fetching water, selling products at the local markets, cultivating fields, or working in mines. Many children live on the streets, separated and sometimes abandoned by their families. They present prime targets for armed forces and military groups who are looking for new recruits. Refugees International met these two children at the airport in Bukavu, South Kivu playing alone on a dusty airport road.