Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo Ebola Emergency - Calls Grow for Urgent Humanitarian Access
[UN News] Aid teams trying to keep deadly Ebola disease from spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are increasingly concerned about ongoing fighting and violence that has forced thousands of people to flee a displacement camp in the vast, resource-rich east of the country.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a growing humanitarian crisis as Ebola cases surpass 8,000 for the first time since the current outbreak began, with 3,901 deaths reported as of the latest situation report. The situation worsens amid ongoing fighting and violence, forcing thousands to flee the Kigonze displacement camp in Bunia, northeast Ituri province.
The camp now hosts nearly 19,000 people, who are struggling to access essential services and protection amid threats and intimidation. The UN aid coordination office and UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the DRC, Damien Mama, have expressed concerns over the security situation and the difficulty in securing humanitarian access to the camp.
The dispersal of families raises public health concerns, as the camp is part of the ongoing Ebola response, potentially hindering disease surveillance, contact tracing, and essential services. The Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugy virus, is the largest and deadliest in the DRC's history, surpassing the 2018-2020 emergency and the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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