UN: Armed groups hamper Ebola response in DR Congo

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated on Wednesday (17 June) that armed groups are disrupting efforts to tackle Ebola in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). OCHA noted that some groups have even detained humanitarian aid workers. It detailed that five emergency response workers were briefly held on Tuesday (16 June) by an armed group in Ituri Province, the current epicentre of the Ebola outbreak, which accounts for more than 90 per cent of all confirmed cases. OCHA added that humanitarian access in South Kivu Province remains severely restricted in several areas because ongoing fighting continues to force civilians to flee. Nearly 20,000 people were forced to leave their homes on Monday (15 June) following clashes in the Mwenga and Shabunda territories. The displaced families currently require food aid, shelter, healthcare, safe drinking water, and protection. Meanwhile, in the Fizi territory, humanitarian access also remains under pressure as repeated disruptions by armed groups continue to threaten aid deliveries and the safety of humanitarian workers, OCHA said. In South Kivu alone, at least 57 incidents directly affecting humanitarian workers were recorded between January and May, including threats to staff, disruptions to aid distribution, and movement restrictions. Despite these immense challenges, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to support national authorities in curbing the spread of the outbreak and providing assistance. However, humanitarian personnel cannot operate safely without security guarantees, OCHA stated. The UN reiterated its call for all parties to protect civilians and ensure safe, rapid, and unimpeded access to those in need.