CDH-VICAR Denounces Suspension of Teacher Payments in Lusenda and Mulongwe Camps and Warns of Severe Violations of Refugee Rights

CDH/VICAR has received alarming reports from the Lusenda and Mulongwe refugee camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo, confirming that UNHCR has suspended the payment of teachers working in camp schools. This abrupt decision directly impacts refugee children who already face heightened vulnerability and limited access to essential services. With no salary support, teachers are unable to continue their duties, placing thousands of refugee students at immediate risk of losing their only stable access to education.

Following the suspension, UNHCR staff reportedly informed refugee parents that they must now pay the teachers out of their own limited resources. For families already struggling to meet basic needs, this requirement is simply impossible to fulfill. Refugees in these camps live with severe economic constraints, and the expectation that they can finance the education system themselves demonstrates a profound disconnect from their reality. The measure is not only unworkable, but also undermines the fundamental purpose of humanitarian protection.

This situation represents a clear violation of Articles 22 and 23 of the 1951 Geneva Convention, which guarantee refugees’ right to education and access to public assistance. Education is a core protection component, not a negotiable service. Suspending teacher payments and shifting the burden onto refugees threatens to produce long-term harm, including increased school dropouts, protection risks for children, and further marginalization of already vulnerable families. Such practices contradict international obligations and jeopardize the future of refugee children who depend on structured schooling for safety, stability, and development.

CDH/VICAR urges UNHCR and Congolese authorities to immediately reconsider and reverse this decision. Humanitarian agencies must uphold their responsibilities by ensuring continuous access to quality education in refugee settings. As part of its protection-monitoring activities, CDH/VICAR will continue documenting the impact of this suspension, engaging all relevant actors, and advocating for the restoration of teachers’ salaries and the safeguarding of refugee children’s rights. No child should be deprived of education due to an administrative decision that contradicts international commitments.