Ebola outbreak sparks violent attack on Nyakunde hospital in DRC

Angry relatives stormed Nyakunde hospital in Ituri province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, after a woman died there while giving birth. The crowd threw stones, broke the outer fence and forced medical staff and patients to flee. The generator supplying power stopped, leaving the facility in darkness. Several of the ten Ebola patients admitted to the ward escaped, while the remaining three were left without care.

Humanitarian group Samaritan’s Purse withdrew its staff from a nearby treatment centre for safety. Congo’s army has opened an official investigation into the incident. The attack occurs amid the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak, which has recorded 2,073 confirmed cases and 796 deaths. Repeated assaults on health facilities have been reported since the epidemic began in May, highlighting deep community mistrust, misinformation and security challenges. Health workers are threatening strike action over low pay and dangerous working conditions.