Bukavu, 24 January 2013 - The Egyptian Formed Police Unit of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) warmed the hearts of orphaned children in Sud Kivu province when they brought them a bundle of toys on Thursday, 24 January 2013. About a hundred children live in this care center, which is managed by the NGO Œuvre d'Espoir pour l'Enfance in the Panzi neighborhood of Bukavu, the provincial capital.

This generous gesture on the part of MONUSCO police is part of the social activities that they conduct across the D.R. Congo and particularly in the eastern part of the country.

Located about 8 km from Bukavu, the care center in Panzi takes in children who lost their parents in the armed conflicts that are raging in eastern DRC. Most of these children are from Kabare and Walungu territories in Sud Kivu province. The orphanage also takes care of street children, providing a roof over their heads and giving them material support and education. Oeuvre d'Espoir pour l'Enfance currently takes care of 135 children, including 65 girls. Those between 2 and 16 years of age were the intended recipients of the toys donated by MONUSCO's Egyptian Formed Police Unit.

Alain Likota / MONUSCO