DRC / KASAI CHILDREN VIOLENCE

Over 850,000 children have been left without basic services as violent clashes between militia groups and security forces continue in the Greater Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The UN estimates 1.4 million people have been displaced, with over 30,000 taking refuge in neighbouring Angola. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:22
• Production Date: 14 September 2017
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICTS; VIOLENCE
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: 1968544
• Parent Id: 1968544
• Alternate Title: unifeed170914f

Description

STORY: DRC / KASAI CHILDREN VIOLENCE
TRT: 3:22
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNICEF ON SCREEN / EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 GMT FRIDAY 15 SEPTEMBER, 2017
LANGUAGE: TSHILUBA / NATS

DATELINE: AUGUST 2017, KASAI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Shotlist

1. Various shots, road and market
2. Med shot, burnt truck
3. Close up, bullet holes in wall
4. Various shots, burnt house
5. Close up, graffiti
6. Various shots, children at UNICEF supported safehouse playing boardgames
7. Various shots, Luc on swing
8. SOUNDBITE (Tshiluba) Luc, 12 years old (name changed to protect identity):
“The day of my baptism, I circled the fire three times and jumped over it. I was given things to swallow. Afterwards, they took a machete and hit me three times on the chest. Next they gave me plastic bags to swallow, saying that if I concentrate on something, I can become it. After that, they hurt me all over to show that even if I am attacked, I can’t be hurt. In the end, they gave me a knife and stick to go and fight.
”
9. Wide shot, Luc on swing
10. Various shots, child who has been injured by a machete
11. SOUNDBITE (Tshiluba) Luc, 12 years old (name changed to protect identity):
“I’m happy to be here. They give me clothes and teach me about personal hygiene. They also do school work to help us catch up.
”
12. Various shots, blackboard
13. Various shots, students in school

Storyline

More than 850,000 children have been left without basic services as violent clashes between militia groups and security forces continue in the Greater Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The UN estimates 1.4 million people have been displaced, with over 30,000 taking refuge in neighbouring Angola.

Children are bearing the brunt of the crisis and are being forced to endure horrific ordeals such as injury, abuse, detention and recruitment into militia groups. Around half of the militia members are children.

12-year-old Luc swings quietly by himself. He has escaped a militia group where he was a combatant. He recalls his initiation in to the group.

SOUNDBITE (Tshiluba) Luc, 12 years old (name changed to protect identity):
“The day of my baptism, I circled the fire three times and jumped over it. I was given things to swallow. Afterwards, they took a machete and hit me three times on the chest. Next they gave me plastic bags to swallow, saying that if I concentrate on something, I can become it. After that, they hurt me all over to show that even if I am attacked, I can’t be hurt. In the end, they gave me a knife and stick to go and fight.”

Luc has been in a UNICEF-supported safehouse for the last 4 months where he receives food, clothing, care and counselling to try to deal with the trauma he has been through.

SOUNDBITE (Tshiluba) Luc, 12 years old (name changed to protect identity):
“I’m happy to be here. They give me clothes and teach me about personal hygiene. They also do school work to help us catch up.
”

Luc is desperate to return to a life he left behind, to go to school, to be with his family but leaving the safehouse means that he faces stigma and reprisals. So for now this little boy must stay put.

As children in many parts of the world start their school year, UNICEF estimates that 440,000 children could not complete their schooling last year, largely due to the violence and insecurity in the Kasai region.