Photo: Richard Munyaneza
When shelling damaged homes and disrupted vital services, we worked with Ubumwe Community Center in Rwanda to provide counselling, family assessments and practical support. Our Advocacy, Communication and Safeguarding Coordinator Richard Munyaneza reflects on how conflict near the Rwanda–DRC border affected children with disabilities and their families.
Conflict spills across the border
On the morning of 27 January 2025, the sound of heavy artillery and explosions echoed across communities near Goma, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. What began as fighting between armed groups and government forces quickly created fear and uncertainty for families living in nearby border areas in Rwanda. As the shelling intensified, residents rushed to find safety. Several explosive projectiles landed in residential neighbourhoods, damaging homes and infrastructure and leaving families shaken.
Among the affected institutions was Ubumwe Community Centre, a partner of Hope and Homes for Children supporting children and young people with disabilities. Ubumwe Community Centre operates a day-care centre and an inclusive school in Rubavu District, which neighbours Goma, where the fighting was taking place. The centre provides care and support to children and young adults with disabilities and their families.
That morning, the centre was fortunate: most of the children had not yet arrived when the explosions began. Only a few children staying at the boarding facility and a small number of early arrivals were present at the time. Although parts of the centre’s facilities were damaged during the shelling, no children or staff were injured.
The effect on families
One family reported that a relative had been shot in the shoulder during the chaos. While he survived, the family fled their home for safety and later returned to find that some household belongings had been stolen.
Another family shared that their children were still deeply frightened by the sound of gunfire and explosions. Their rented home had also been damaged, with shattered window glass left behind by the blast. In another household, a bullet destroyed the television that the family had recently purchased to improve their living conditions. For another family, part of the roof of their house was damaged during the shelling, and a mattress inside the house was burned.
“After the shelling, many children and their families were psychologically traumatised by the bullets that were falling on the building (centre). Fear and shock made it very difficult for families to return to the centre. Our team worked closely with them, providing reassurance and support until they felt safe again. Only after the government confirmed that the borders were secured did families gradually regain the confidence to come back and resume the services that are so important for their children, about two weeks later”. – Richard Munyaneza
In the days that followed, staff conducted a rapid assessment to understand how the incident had affected children with disabilities and their families supported through the EU-funded project. Although all children were safe, several families had been directly impacted by the violence.
Beyond the direct damage to homes, the incident also disrupted services normally provided by the community centre. Day-care services, home visits, and family support activities had to be temporarily suspended. Families caring for children with disabilities also experienced reduced access to support systems such as health services and community networks.
Our response
In response to the situation, the Government of Rwanda intervened quickly, supporting families whose homes had been destroyed by rebuilding damaged houses and facilitating the safe return of residents to their homes. The government also supported the rehabilitation of the sections of Ubumwe Community Centre that had been damaged during the heavy shelling.
At the same time, Hope and Homes for Children mobilised support to assist families of children with disabilities affected by the incident. In partnership with the staff from Ubumwe Community Centre, Hope and Homes for Children facilitated visits to families affected by the incident and conducted family assessments to better understand the social, economic, and psychological impact of the conflict on each household. Counselling sessions were organised for children and parents who experienced trauma, helping families begin the process of recovery. Hope and Homes for Children also provided financial support to ensure that families who had fled their homes could return safely and start rebuilding their lives, particularly families supported under the EU-funded project. 48 children with disabilities and their families received assistance, ensuring they were not left alone in the aftermath of the crisis. Gradually, stability returned to the community.
Two weeks after the incident, activities at the Ubumwe Community Centre resumed, allowing children with disabilities to once again access the services, care, and support that are essential to their well-being. The experience served as a powerful reminder that even in moments of conflict and uncertainty, communities, organisations, and institutions can come together to protect the most vulnerable children and ensure that support continues when it is needed most.
