Around 250 orphaned and vulnerable children in eastern DRC received school supplies and Ebola protection support on Monday, as local group Samaritan Assistance for Vulnerable People (SAV) sought to help children affected by years of conflict.

Footage shows children singing and dancing, practising hand hygiene and receiving shoes, clothes and notebooks during SAV's 'Take Care of Me' solidarity day for children from 25 schools across Goma, Sake and Nyiragongo.

"Hands must be washed regularly, people should avoid picking up and eating contaminated things, and suspected cases should also be reported," said head of SAV, Espoir Kikuni. 

Kikuni also stressed the psychological toll on children.

"They need psychological support. These are children who have dignity and who still have hope for life. If we leave them like this, the region will suffer harmful consequences."

Celestine Bazerake, director of EPAIGO School, said signs of trauma were visible among pupils.

"Sometimes they would start crying. When you look deeper, you realise that the child has many, many problems. They have experienced many situations that are beyond even their understanding."

Years of conflict and displacement have disrupted education across eastern DRC, forcing schools to close and uprooting families, particularly in North Kivu.

The support also comes as the DRC battles a major Ebola outbreak. WHO says the virus has spread across seven provinces, including North Kivu, with thousands of cases reported since the outbreak began in May.