UN: Poor Conditions in Congolese Refugee Camps Increase Ebola Risk

The United Nations humanitarian agency has warned that overcrowding and poor sanitation in displacement camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo are increasing the risk of Ebola transmission. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said more than 270,000 people, mostly women and children, are sheltering in over 60 sites across Ituri Province, many of which lack adequate access to water, sanitation, and health services. OCHA stated the UN has received reports from local partners that between Wednesday and Thursday, at least 13 people died in two camps in Bunia, the provincial capital. Emergency response teams are urgently investigating whether these deaths are linked to Ebola. Since April, at least 62 deaths have been reported in camps around the city. “These deaths occur amid a wider Ebola outbreak in Bunia, where distrust of health facilities, population density, gaps in prevention measures, and unsafe handling of bodies are driving transmission risks among camp residents,” OCHA said. “This is extremely worrying because Ituri Province remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for more than 90 per cent of confirmed cases.” OCHA said that as of Wednesday, local authorities had reported 896 confirmed Ebola cases in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. OCHA is working with partners and local authorities to strengthen community engagement and scale up health and sanitation efforts in the camps, but current measures remain inadequate given the scale of needs. “This Ebola outbreak is occurring amid a broader humanitarian crisis,” OCHA said, adding that the 2026 humanitarian response plan, requiring 1.4 billion US dollars, seeks to address the full spectrum of humanitarian needs, including food security, protection, water and sanitation, health services, and education, for 7.3 million of the most vulnerable Congolese. However, the funding appeal is only just over half funded, OCHA said.