SABACIREBON – Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the armed conflict in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo is making handling the Ebola outbreak increasingly difficult to control.
Through a post on social media
“Eastern DRC now faces a devastating collision of disease and conflict,” Tedros wrote.
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He explained that the Ebola outbreak that occurred in Ituri Province originated from the Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no official vaccine or treatment.
According to Tedros, armed conflict and large-scale population movements have hampered access for health workers to affected areas. This condition makes efforts to track patients, isolate cases, and distribute medical assistance very limited.
Residents exposed to the virus are also forced to live in densely populated refugee camps, increasing the risk of infection.
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“Stopping the spread of Ebola depends entirely on humanitarian access,” he said.
WHO also highlighted the increase in attacks on health facilities in conflict areas. The unstable security situation makes medical personnel work in dangerous conditions.
“We cannot build public trust or isolate the sick while bombs fall,” Tedros said.
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WHO urges all parties involved in the conflict to immediately implement a ceasefire so that humanitarian aid can arrive safely and the handling of the outbreak does not get worse.
“We ask that human survival be prioritized above all else,” Tedros said.
The conflict in eastern Congo involves a number of armed groups, including the M23 rebel group and the Congolese Cooperative for Development militia. Prolonged clashes have forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes.
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Meanwhile, African health authorities previously warned of the potential spread of Ebola to a number of countries in the region. At least 10 countries are now in the risk category, namely Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Zambia.
WHO assesses that the risk of global spread is still relatively low. However, monitoring continues to be tightened following the increasing number of cases, including infections of health workers and the emergence of outbreaks in a number of urban areas.***
