Ebola in DR Congo leaves over 1,900 children orphaned or separated

More than 1,900 children have been orphaned or separated from their families due to the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to UNICEF. As of September 28, the agency identified 1,581 children in Ituri and 322 in North Kivu, though officials warn the actual number is likely higher due to identification constraints.

Data analyzed by UNICEF from Ministry of Health records shows that at least 2,076 children have tested positive for Ebola, with 1,162 deaths reported as of September 29. Children represent over one in four confirmed cases and approximately one in three deaths. The mortality rate is particularly high among the youngest; seven in ten children under the age of five with confirmed Ebola have died.

UNICEF Director of Emergency Operations Lucia Elmi highlighted the rapid chain of harm caused by the virus, noting that parental illness or death leaves children without caregivers, while fear of contagion and social stigma often prevent relatives from intervening. In addition to the health crisis, local groups like Samaritan Assistance for Vulnerable People (SAV) are providing school supplies and hygiene support to children in areas like Goma and Nyiragongo to mitigate the impact of conflict and disease.