Regarding refugee children, the UNHCR is working closely with the government to prevent
discrimination, domestic violence and sexual assault on refugee populations. In addition to
the repatriation, children of Rwandan refugees in Congo now seem to have access to
education in the regular Congolese schools. However, access to secondary and higher-level
education, the reduction of the number of students per classroom and the search for adequate
financial sources remain a challenge.
The refugee population does not also suffer from malnutrition more than the local population
of the region. Most refugees attend to the needs of their children through agriculture. To this
end, the UNHCR and its local partners are conducting awareness campaigns on health and
hygiene. The Constitution in Article 42 provides: "foreigners enjoy in the territory of the
Republic of Congo the same rights and freedom as nationals under the conditions determined
by treaties and laws, subject to reciprocity." Article 819 of the Family Code states that
"foreigners enjoy the same rights as nationals”. These two texts were relayed by Law 4-2010
on child protection in the Republic of Congo in particular Articles 5, 26, 27 and 41. In
addition, the UNHCR provides legal assistance to victims of sexual violence and provides
training on the issue of sexual violence to officers who work directly with refugees, to the
police and parliamentarians. For now, according to the UNHCR, 56% of refugee children in
rural areas continue to go to school, but it is difficult for those who are not registered as
refugees and those who do not have ID. The enrolment rate in secondary school is 25%.
Law No. 23-96 of 6 June 1996, sets the conditions for entry, stay and exit of foreigners.
The National Committee for Assistance to Refugees (CNAR), which was established by
Decree No. 99/310 of 31 December 1999, is responsible for the administrative support of
refugees resulting in the issuance of refugee cards, travel documents, the outreach certificates
and sometimes scholarships. It also deals with the repatriation operation.
Local NGOs, with the support of the government, have developed programmes for
unaccompanied children and vulnerable children. These programmes aim to ensure access to
basic health care, psychological support, support in starting or consolidating incomegenerating activities, vocational training, and nutrition education.
In 2009, with the outbreak of the conflict in the DRC, refugees arrived massively fleeing
ethnic violence in the Equateur region of northern DRC. They crossed the Oubangui river to
reach several locations in Likouala department. Faced with these problems, the government
through its Ministry in charge of Humanitarian Action, Defence and Interior, was mobilised
with important provision of food, non-food and medicine from its usual partners (UNDP,
UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNAIDS, FAO, CNAR (National
Committee for Assistance to refugees) and medical supplies for the MDA charity. Venues
and support of refugees were set up. A service package was provided for water, hygiene and
sanitation, including rehabilitation / construction of wells, latrines, hand washing devices,
water tank system was installed and campaign awareness about hand washing with soaps,
cleaning, disinfection and cleaning of existing wells, water treatment, as well as advocacy on
sanitation goshawks water points, showers built with support from UNICEF.
At the end of January 2010, the number of refugees was estimated at 114 000. Among them
were unaccompanied children (134) and separated (141). For these children, in addition to
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