DR Congo Ebola emergency: Calls grow for urgent humanitarian access

Aid organizations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are warning that ongoing violence has forced thousands of people to flee Kigonze displacement camp in Ituri province, complicating efforts to contain a worsening Ebola outbreak. Soldiers reportedly entered the camp searching for weapons and suspected armed group members, prompting gunfire and prompting families to leave. The camp, home to nearly 19,000 displaced people, has faced repeated threats, arrests, and destruction of shelters, according to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.

The exodus from Kigonze camp comes as confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC surpass 8,000 for the first time, with 8,067 cases and 3,901 deaths recorded, yielding a case fatality rate of 48.4 percent. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the DRC, Damien Mama, reported that many displaced families have sought refuge with host families, making it difficult for aid workers to assess needs, distribute supplies, or maintain protection services.

The dispersal of thousands of displaced people raises serious public health concerns, as Kigonze camp is part of the Ebola response area. The UN warns that unplanned departures and restricted access could disrupt disease surveillance, contact tracing, and essential services, undermining outbreak control. Across Ituri province, more than 1.1 million people are displaced by conflict, including over 373,000 living in displacement sites.

The World Health Organization reports that insecurity, displacement, and limited access are undermining surveillance, case detection, and infection control measures, reducing the effectiveness of the Ebola response. While Ituri province shows a gradual decline in cases compared to mid-August, North Kivu province has seen a recent surge, reaching record highs in mid-September before a slight decline.