Bunia, May 13th, 2026 (CPA).– A total of 245 cases of child disappearances have been documented within one year in Ituri province, in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, along the border between the DRC and Uganda, an International Organization for Migration (IOM) consultant warned on Wednesday during a workshop dedicated to the issue. “In one year, 245 cases of child disappearances were recorded only in Ituri province between the DRC and Uganda,” explained Dr Elie Telo, an international expert on human trafficking at the IOM.
Explaining the causes of the phenomenon, he added: “For example, there are more than 450 uncontrolled crossing points where state services are absent, including the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) and the National Hygiene Program at Borders (PNHF), which are supposed to ensure the security of migration flows and combat this scourge at provincial and border levels.” Mr Telo also noted that several other factors contribute to the situation, including poverty, armed conflicts destabilizing Ituri, and lack of awareness of relevant laws.As a preventive measure against human trafficking, he justified the organization of the workshop, which includes awareness and behavior-change communication activities. “In terms of protection, it is necessary to strengthen the capacity of service providers so that they can offer comprehensive assistance to victims of trafficking in the province, especially at border points,” he said.He further stressed the need to train judicial actors, including judicial police officers, prosecutors, and judges, on legal texts criminalizing human trafficking in order to strengthen the fight against the phenomenon.Several stakeholders from communities, civil society, the justice system, and international partners took part in the meeting, it was reported.