Congo-Kinshasa: Violence Against Healthcare Workers in DRC Hampers Ebola Response

Healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing increased danger, with the United Nations and Red Cross warning that attacks are impeding the fight against the Ebola virus. Over 260 healthcare workers have been targeted in the past six months, with eight losing their lives, according to United Nations Ebola coordinator Julien Harneis.

Harneis explained that the fear surrounding the virus leads to angry young men throwing stones at ambulances, and incidents of ambulances being burned and health facilities attacked have been reported. Eighteen people, including 11 Red Cross volunteers, have been injured, and some ambulances and equipment have been damaged or destroyed.

The epidemic, which has claimed 2,606 lives out of 5,458 confirmed cases, is rapidly spreading, covering an area larger than France, and growing faster than the response to the outbreak. Misinformation and conspiracy theories about the outbreak, coupled with residents' reluctance to follow burial restrictions, further complicate the situation.

The International Red Cross highlighted that each incident involving its volunteers or equipment makes the response to the epidemic more challenging. Additionally, the outbreak is straining resources, as paying the tens of thousands of workers hired to combat the virus has become difficult due to disrupted banking services after the government halted commercial flights used to transport cash.