In the past year, the LRA Crisis Tracker has captured LRA movement and actions through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Central African Republic (CAR), and South Sudan. Just last week, the LRA Crisis Tracker reported that the LRA abducted 31 men, women, and children from a community in the Central African Republic– a somber reminder that while our efforts in CAR and DR Congo have made great strides in dismantling the LRA, we are not done yet.

Between June 2011 and June 2012, the LRA was responsible for 175 abductions. In the past year (June 2013 to June 2014) that number decreased to 94 abductions. During that same time frame, fatalities decreased from 43 lives lost to 15. Both abductions and fatalities saw significant decrease over the past few years, a positive sign that the LRA may be weakening.

The LRA Crisis Tracker shows LRA activity throughout the DR Congo and CAR.

The LRA Crisis Tracker shows LRA activity throughout the DR Congo and CAR.

Yet, LRA lootings in the area paint a different picture. They conducted 145 lootings between June 2011 and June 2012, and today that number holds steady at 144.

Why does this matter? Because looting, or the stealing of goods, is serious and life-altering for geographically and economically isolated communities.

When the LRA loots a community, they are robbing that community of not only its resources, but also its livelihood; and across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Central African Republic (CAR), the LRA commits this atrocity daily.

Because of geographic isolation, these communities rely on their surrounding jungles for food and provisions. When the LRA loots food and resources in a small rural community, there is no back-up plan; that community may not have food, clothing or blankets for the next day, or week, or month.

The LRA has systematically targeted vulnerable communities to steal whatever and however much they can. They take food, supplies, and sometimes worse – innocent people. But the problem doesn’t end when the LRA leaves; looting impacts the community’s resources, lifestyle, and livelihood for a long time. For example, when the LRA destroys and steals a community’s harvest for the year, that community may have nothing until the next crop season.

Suddenly, their home and community are no longer safe and they live in constant fear of another attack. Some are even forced out of their homes; as of now, the LRA has displaced hundreds of thousands of people in central Africa. And while physical possessions may be replaced over time, the emotional and psychological damage remains.

Looting by LRA forces is a serious problem that deserves not only our attention, but also our continued commitment to permanently ending the LRA. Every day that the LRA continues to exist is another day that communities in the DR Congo and CAR live in insecurity.

AT INVISIBLE CHILDREN, WE BELIEVE THAT NO ONE SHOULD LIVE IN CONSTANT FEAR OF ATTACK.