Democratic Republic of the Congo Ebola response hindered by violence

Violence against healthcare workers and medical infrastructure is severely hindering the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the Ituri province, attacks on medical teams have disrupted the monitoring of suspected cases and the implementation of containment measures.

In the Biringi health zone, an ambulance was burned and a driver was left in a coma following an attack by local youths at the Kandoy hospital. Such incidents have led to the disappearance of suspected Ebola patients and the destruction of essential transport vehicles. In Butembo, the Maisha Bora Hospital was targeted by arson, resulting in the destruction of three rooms and several hospital beds. These attacks occur amidst a broader context of rising resistance against epidemic response teams and threats to community health facilities.