CDH-VICAR Warns of Education Crisis in Lusenda and Mulongwe

CDH/VICAR has been informed of a critical situation unfolding in the Lusenda and Mulongwe refugee camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where UNHCR has suspended the payment of teachers working in schools serving refugee children. This sudden halt has left already vulnerable children without a guaranteed access to education, placing their future and well-being at serious risk. Education inside refugee camps is often the only structured support system available to young people, and any disruption can have deep and lasting consequences.

Compounding the issue, UNHCR staff have reportedly instructed refugee parents to take over the responsibility of paying teachers’ salaries. For families who already face significant economic hardship and struggle to meet even the most basic needs, this expectation is unrealistic. Refugees in these camps have extremely limited access to livelihood opportunities, and transferring financial obligations from humanitarian agencies to impoverished families amounts to an unacceptable burden with harmful effects on the entire community.

This decision stands in direct contradiction with Articles 22 and 23 of the 1951 Geneva Convention, which guarantee refugees the right to education and the right to receive public assistance. By removing institutional support for camp-based schools and pushing the costs onto refugees, this measure undermines international commitments and jeopardizes the rights and protection of children. The suspension of teacher payments risks increasing school dropout rates, heightening protection risks, and further marginalizing already vulnerable populations.

CDH/VICAR calls on UNHCR and Congolese authorities to urgently review and reverse this decision. Ensuring access to education is not optional—it is a legal and moral obligation that must be upheld. As part of its protection-monitoring activities, CDH/VICAR will continue documenting the impacts of this measure, engaging stakeholders, and advocating for a swift reinstatement of teacher payments. Refugee children must not be denied their fundamental right to education due to administrative or financial decisions that violate international standards.