The children
The disruption caused by the war in DRC has led to widespread malnutrition among its children and has severely compromised their education.
The acute malnutrition rate for children under five is 16 per cent and the chronic malnutrition rate is 38 per cent. Consequently, many children have lowered resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood diseases. Infant mortality in DRC is one of the highest in the world (one in 5 children will die before their fifth birthday). Those who do survive are prone to frequent illnesses, faltering growth and diminished learning ability.
Poor education
In addition to the effects of malnutrition, the lack of an education system offering free schooling for all discriminates against children from poor backgrounds and is one of the major causes of the high level of illiteracy. Indeed, according to a report issued by Unicef, more than 4.4 million children of school age do not receive any schooling at all.
Malnutrition and illiteracy constitute a major challenge for the survival and development of children in DRC. There is an extremely urgent need to support, inform and empower communities in the best nutritional and educational practices and for sustained financial assistance to be given, so that the present dire situation may be gradually improved.