In Congo, four million children orphaned

Nov 28, 2016

In Congo, four million children orphaned

Matt Bracken 0 Comment Africa, World Congo, orphans

GOMA, Congo (AP) — More than 4 million children have lost at least one parent in Congo over the past two decades, the silent victims of continuous cycles of violence.

And more than 26 million orphans live in West and Central Africa, where Congo is located — the second highest number in the world behind South Asia, according to the United Nations.

These children have grown up amid conflict fueled by ethnic strife and the fight over Congo’s valuable minerals. The violence and displacement are eroding the tradition of families caring for their own. (Read more here).

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, ten-year-old Safina Gatuku, plays with a ball at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Abandoned by their father, Safina and her sister Subiza, eight, walked two days in the forest after their mother was killed by soldiers in 2009 before being pick-up by ICDC volunteers. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, the bed of Jeannette Umutesi, 16, is seen covered by fashion calendars, at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Born only a few years after Rwanda’s 1994 genocide spilled into Congo and rebellions started forming, Jeannette has known only Congo’s and her father’s violence, displacement and death. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, five-year-old Alpha Meleki, center, plays in the yard at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Melee survived an attack from ADF rebels on his village that left over 20 dead including his parents in Beni in January 2016. Rescuers found Meleki in a pile of bodies with a bullet wound to his belly. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, six-year-old Alpha Meleki recalls his ordeal during an attack from ADF rebels on his village that left over 20 dead and scores wounded in Beni January 2016, at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Rescuers found Meleki in a pile of bodies with a bullet wound to his belly. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Monday, June 20, 2016, Rachel Wanimigabo, three, rests on a sign reading “respect the grass” at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Rachel’s mother died giving birth to her youngest brother in April 2016. Her father disappeared. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Monday, June 20, 2016, Natane Musungayi, 13 sits outside her room at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Natane’s mother left her at a young age, sending her to live with a father whose new wife kicked her out. She ended up on the street. After her father died in 2014, Natane was forced into working in the street, begging, and was abused by her peers. She was saved and taken to the center by police. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Monday, June 20, 2016, orphans play at the Don Bosco center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than four million children have lost at least one parent in Congo over the past two decades. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Monday, June 20, 2016, Damien Matata Bizi, 22, recounts his past as an orphan who became a child soldier at the Don Bosco center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Bizi became a rebel aged 10 after his father, also an armed fighter, died.(AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, Shardrack Bahati, eight, sits outside his room at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Bahati lived on the streets of Goma when he was found by Red Cross volunteers and brought to the center in 2013. Since then, searches for his parents have been inconclusive. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, Moises Munoka, seven, recounts the loss of his mother who died in 2013 after health complications from rapes, at the Children’s voice center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than four million children have lost at least one parent in Congo over the past two decades. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, a soldier motions to the photographer not to take pictures in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than four million children have lost at least one parent in Congo over the past two decades. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Saturday, June 18, 2016, orphans eat their lunch at the Don Bosco center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than four million children have lost at least one parent in Congo over the past two decades. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Saturday, June 18, 2016 ,orphans eat their lunch at the Don Bosco center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than four million children have lost at least one parent in Congo over the past two decades. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Saturday, June 18, 2016, orphans wash their hands before eating their lunch at the Don Bosco center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than four million children have lost at least one parent in Congo over the past two decades. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Saturday, June 18, 2016, orphans eat their lunch at the Don Bosco center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than four million children have lost at least one parent in Congo over the past two decades. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Saturday, June 18, 2016, Julie Faide, 14, waits for lunch to be served at the Don Bosco center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Julie came to the center in 2003. Her father was a soldier and her mother has disappeared. Julie wants to be a nun. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Saturday, June 18, 2016, orphaned children play on the soccer field at the Don Bosco center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than four million children have lost at least one parent in Congo over the past two decades. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Saturday, June 18, 2016, Moise Bahati, 12, joins other street children in a prayer service at a Don Bosco safe house in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Bahati, who left home fleeing from domestic violence, has been in the shelter for 5 months. ” This is much better than home, i do not want to go back” he said. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Saturday, June 18, 2016, Jean Claude Twisenge, 15, from Massissi, joins other street children in a prayer service at a Don Bosco safe house in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Jean Claude had walked for a week to reach Goma, “Fleeing misery, I was looking for money to pay for school”. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, six-year-old Alpha Meleki plays in the yard at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Melee survived an attack from ADF rebels on his village that left over 20 dead including his parents in Beni in January 2016. Rescuers found Meleki in a pile of bodies with a bullet wound to his belly. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, orphan children watch a film on a portable computer at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than four million children have lost at least one parent in Congo over the past two decades.(AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, two elderly women walk in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than four million children have lost at least one parent in Congo over the past two decades. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, Jeannette Umutesi dances in the courtyard at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Born only a few years after Rwanda’s 1994 genocide spilled into Congo and rebellions started forming, Jeannette has known only Congo’s and her father’s violence, displacement and death. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, Anuarita Mahoro, 12, tells her story of rejection because she was among those ostracized due to physical problem after her parents died, at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. She was also rejected because of her parents’ pasts. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, Subiza Gatuku, eight, sits in front of her room at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Subiza and her ten-year-old sister Safina were abandoned by their father, and walked two days in the forest after their mother was killed by soldiers in 2009 before being pick-up by ICDC volunteers. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, ten-year-old Safina Gatuku, left, and her sister Subiza, eight, sit in front of their room at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Abandoned by their father, they walked two days in the forest after their mother was killed by soldiers in 2009 before being pick-up by ICDC volunteers.(AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, five-year-old Alpha Meleki plays in the yard at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Melee survived an attack from ADF rebels on his village that left over 20 dead including his parents in Beni in January 2016. Rescuers found Meleki in a pile of bodies with a bullet wound to his belly. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

: In this photo taken on Sunday, June 19, 2016, Jeannette Umutesi cries as she recalls fleeing her hometown of Kirolarwe in 2008, at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Born only a few years after Rwanda’s 1994 genocide spilled into Congo and rebellions started forming, Jeannette has known only Congo’s and her father’s violence, displacement and death. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

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