Violence in eastern DR Congo drives fresh displacements, complicates Ebola response: UN

Violence in eastern DRC is causing mass displacement and hindering efforts to contain a growing Ebola outbreak. UN agencies report civilian deaths, abductions and thousands displaced, urging humanitarian access, resources, functioning health services and political commitment to strengthen surveillance and response efforts

United Nations: Violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is driving fresh mass displacements, complicating the response to the Ebola outbreak, UN humanitarians said.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday (local time) said the hostilities are forcing people to flee their homes, and the insecurity and movement of people hamper disease surveillance and response efforts.

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As of Sunday, national health authorities had reported more than 6,100 confirmed Ebola cases and nearly 2,950 deaths. OCHA said that in Ituri province, local civil society sources reported that at least 37 civilians were killed and more than 35 people abducted during armed attacks in the territory of Mambasa on Saturday.

At least 86 civilians were killed in attacks across the territory last month, reports Xinhua news agency. In neighbouring South Kivu province, the office said its partners reported that clashes in Walungu territory have displaced at least 15,000 people since August 23.

Most of the displaced are sheltering with host families and need food, shelter and health care. Fighting is also forcing displacements in parts of North Kivu province. “Despite these challenges, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to support the authorities’ response,” OCHA said.

The International Organization for Migration said it has conducted nearly 23 million health screenings in the DRC and neighbouring countries, helping to monitor people’s movements, detect potential cases and reduce the risk of cross-border transmission.

The United Nations repeated its call on all parties to protect civilians and facilitate safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access, noting that maintaining access to communities affected by the outbreak remains critical for delivering life-saving assistance and supporting efforts to bring the Ebola outbreak under control.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said, “We cannot respond incrementally to an epidemic which is now growing exponentially.” Fletcher, speaking at a virtual briefing hosted by the World Health Organization, called for a sustained, large-scale operation to get ahead of the Ebola virus, adding that people need functioning health services, clean water, sanitation, food, protection and livelihoods.

Above all, he said, they need trust. “Time is not on our side. We have the experience, the tools, extraordinary people risking their lives to stop this epidemic. What we need now is political will, access, and resources. We have beaten Ebola before. And we can do it again,” said the relief chief.