Sexual violence survivors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are running out of lifesaving medical supplies as funding cuts collapse the system meant to help them, according to the CARE International. Nearly 500 cases of sexual violence were reported in a single week earlier this year, with over 150 involving children. But women and girls who brave dangerous journeys to reach health facilities now find empty shelves where post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) kits should be—supplies that prevent HIV infection after rape and sexual assault.
The numbers paint a horrifying picture. Over 67,000 sexual assaults were reported in just the first four months of 2025, a 38% jump from last year. These figures likely represent only a fraction of actual cases, as many survivors stay silent out of fear of reprisals or being rejected by their own families and communities.
“The systematic use of rape as a weapon of war is not only a violation of human rights but a deliberate strategy to destabilize communities,” said Amadou Bocoum, CARE DRC Country Director.
The shortage of PEP kits leaves survivors vulnerable to HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and unwanted pregnancies from rape – all preventable with proper medical care within 72 hours of assault.
Getting to health facilities has become nearly impossible in many areas. Roads are blocked by fighting, and survivors risk their lives traveling through combat zones. Célestine Nabahavu, CARE DRC’s National Women and Girls Program Advisor, recalled a 14-year-old girl who walked two days to reach a health center after being sexually assaulted while fleeing her village. “She walked two days to a health center only to be met with empty shelves – no PEP kits,” Nabahavu said.
CARE is calling on donors who pledged support for humanitarian needs to prioritize medical supplies and fund programs that combat sexual violence. Without immediate action, thousands more women and girls will suffer preventable consequences from these brutal attacks while the world watches.
