Violence against healthcare workers in DRC hampers Ebola response

Healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing increasing violence, with more than 260 attacks reported in the past six months, eight of which resulted in fatalities. United Nations Ebola coordinator Julien Harneis warned that these attacks are causing significant challenges to the country's Ebola response efforts.

Fear has led to angry young men acting out against healthcare workers, burning ambulances and attacking health facilities. Harneis noted that about 160 healthcare workers have contracted Ebola themselves, with 43 of them losing their lives to the virus. The Red Cross reported 11 incidents against its volunteers, nine of whom were injured, and incidents of ambulances and equipment being damaged in attacks.

The latest incident occurred in Beni, North Kivu province, where three volunteers were assaulted and equipment was destroyed. Harneis added that misinformation and conspiracy theories are fueling residents' hostility towards the outbreak, and some residents have reacted negatively to restrictions on personal burials. The epidemic, which has killed 2,606 people among 5,458 confirmed cases, is spreading rapidly and expanding into a larger area than initially anticipated.

The International Red Cross emphasized that each incident involving its volunteers or equipment hinders their ability to respond to the epidemic effectively. Another major challenge is the financial strain caused by the need to pay tens of thousands of people employed to combat the outbreak, as banking services have been disrupted due to the government's cessation of commercial flights used for cash transportation.