The UN Senior Ebola Response Coordinator, Julien Harneis, recently emphasized that fatalities from armed groups like the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) now outnumber those caused by the Ebola virus in the region. He pointed out that attacks on numerous villages across southern Ituri and North Kivu provinces are frequently ignored, fueling fear and anger among communities. Harneis warned that attempting contact tracing in areas where the ADF operates is exceptionally perilous.
Up to 500 infections per week
Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, corroborated these concerns, stating that despite advancements in controlling transmission, between 400 and 500 new cases are still being identified each week. This persistent trend is largely attributed to the emergence of cases in remote and inaccessible rural areas.
However, Dr. Ihekweazu also noted positive developments, including a significant reduction in transmission in former hotspots such as Bunia, Mongbwalu, Rampara, and Nizi in Ituri province, thanks to prevention efforts.
Nevertheless, the widespread violence across the affected regions presents immense obstacles for health responders. Dr. Ihekweazu described repeated attacks on healthcare facilities, communities, and care providers, including the tragic loss of nurses during burial operations. He stressed the critical need for ongoing collaboration with communities and specific groups involved in these assaults.
Disease threats in addition to attacks
Local communities are already grappling with outbreaks of other diseases, malnutrition, and displacement, exacerbated by decades of conflict involving numerous armed groups in this resource-rich area. The WHO recently condemned attacks on healthcare workers and community outreach officers, such as the incident in Cantine-Aloya, North Kivu, which resulted in 66 civilian deaths, including three health personnel, and the looting of three health facilities. Additionally, two weeks prior, a nurse was killed and another health worker injured during an Ebola response mission in Tshopo province.
Tedros appeal
Further incidents have included an attempted arson of a treatment centre and stones thrown at a vehicle used for safe and dignified burials, underscoring the importance of rebuilding trust with highly vulnerable populations. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that Ebola is not the primary concern for some communities, who view it as a lesser threat compared to other dangers they face daily.
A massive humanitarian emergency
The Ebola outbreak, declared in May, has escalated into the largest in DRC’s history, spreading rapidly across the vast eastern and northeastern provinces. To date, over 11,000 cases have been confirmed, resulting in more than 5,000 deaths. Concurrently, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that nearly 29 million people in DRC are experiencing acute food insecurity, predominantly in conflict and Ebola-affected areas. Jean-Martin Bauer, WFP Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, stated that conflict is the primary driver of this hunger crisis, compounded by the Ebola outbreak.
Bauer emphasized the urgent need for access and resources to prevent further deterioration. Expert assessments indicate that from January to June 2027, 30.3 million people will face crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse, with 4.2 million in emergency conditions, particularly in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces, due to persistent conflict and large-scale displacement.
Bauer noted that Ebola is one of many disease outbreaks but significantly worsens the hunger crisis for communities already struggling. Families are displaced from their farms and livelihoods, and rising food prices make adequate nutrition unaffordable for many households.
