The United Nations has intensified efforts to combat the worsening Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, deploying emergency medical supplies, transportation support and humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
Speaking at a press briefing in New York on Thursday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said several UN agencies and peacekeeping teams were working closely with Congolese authorities to contain the rapidly spreading disease and address the growing humanitarian crisis.
“Our humanitarian and peacekeeping colleagues are continuing to support the government’s efforts regarding the fast-spreading outbreak of Ebola and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
“The province of Ituri remains the epicentre of the outbreak with the most affected areas in the towns of Rwampara, Mongbwalu and Bunia.
“These towns may not be familiar to you, but it’s important to note that they are densely populated.
“The peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) is providing critical logistical assistance to enable the rapid delivery of medical supplies and equipment to Bunia, where response efforts are being reinforced,’’ Dujarric said.
According to him, the UN peacekeeping mission has already released four light passenger vehicles to aid emergency response teams operating in Ituri province.
He added that MONUSCO had also stationed a helicopter to support flights into affected communities whenever necessary, while two ambulances and two armoured vehicles were being transported from Goma to Bunia to improve medical evacuations and outreach operations in volatile locations.
“This material will be made available to our World Health Organisation (WHO) colleagues.
“There are increasing concerns also over the spread of Ebola to the province of North Kivu, where cases have now been confirmed in Goma, Butembo and Katwa.
“Our colleagues note that these are urban areas with a history of Ebola transmission,” he said.
The UN spokesperson further explained that health authorities and humanitarian partners were expanding disease surveillance and introducing screening procedures at entry points in North Kivu to limit further transmission.
“In North Kivu, partners are strengthening surveillance, introducing screening at points of entry and adapting operations, including remote coordination where it is needed.
“To strengthen the mobility of health teams engaged in contact tracing and rapid response, MONUSCO has also sent motorcycles from Goma and Beni, while additional ones are being serviced in Bunia for handover to WHO,’’ he added.
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Dujarric also revealed that local officials had confirmed another Ebola infection in South Kivu, specifically in the town of Bukavu.
Reports indicated that the infected individual had travelled from Tshopo province, which shares a border with Ituri.
“As we have said before, but it’s worth repeating, this outbreak is unfolding in a context marked by displacement, marked by insecurity, marked by high population mobility and significant access constraints for humanitarians and peacekeepers.
“All our colleagues on the ground, whether they be United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Peacekeepers, WHO, World Food Programme (WFP) , UN child rights agency (UNICEF) and many others will continue to work and to do their best in support of the population,’’ he said.
The World Food Programme is currently supporting the operation by transporting aid personnel, medical supplies and humanitarian cargo into difficult-to-access communities, while also providing food and nutrition support to patients, survivors and affected households.
WFP disclosed that it urgently requires more than 214 million dollars for operations across the DRC, including over 10 million dollars specifically dedicated to the Ebola emergency response.
Meanwhile, UNICEF warned that children remained among the most vulnerable victims of the outbreak due to disruption of social services, loss of caregivers and increased emotional and protection risks.
The agency said children “are especially vulnerable to the impacts of Ebola outbreaks, including disruptions to essential services, loss of parents and caregivers, stigma, psychosocial distress, and increased protection risks.”
UNICEF stated that it had already mobilised close to 50 tonnes of emergency supplies, including soaps, disinfectants, personal protective equipment, water purification tablets and water storage tanks.
The agency also confirmed that an Emergency Rapid Response team was heading to Bunia to provide technical support in areas such as community engagement and public health communication.
Although more than 2,000 community health workers are currently active in affected regions, officials warned that more manpower and resources were urgently needed, especially in remote communities.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has now experienced 17 Ebola outbreaks since the deadly virus was first identified five decades ago.
Health authorities confirmed that the current outbreak was caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there are presently no approved vaccines or treatments.
So far, the outbreak has resulted in 139 deaths and about 600 suspected infections in the DRC, while neighbouring Uganda has recorded two confirmed cases.
The World Health Organisation has classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern, although it clarified that the situation does not yet amount to a global pandemic emergency.
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