As health authorities in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda respond to the deadly resurgence, the UN is also helping to strengthen preparedness and raise awareness in at-risk communities.
UN humanitarian workers have been working since the outbreak was declared on May 15 in Ituri province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 72 hours, the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered 11.5 tons of medical supplies and equipment from the capital, Kinshasa, and from its regional centers in Dakar and Nairobi.
The supplies included personal protective equipment, medical kits and tents. Water, sanitation and hygiene items were also provided to help prevent infections and support effective case management.
Support for the UN mission
WHO said collaboration with partner organizations and the private sector has been crucial.
The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUSCO, quickly deployed its air assets to support Congolese authorities and UN agencies.
Starting Sunday, MONUSCO established an “air bridge” to transport WHO emergency supplies from Nairobi to Bunia, capital of Ituri province. Four vehicles and two motorcycles were also sent to the city to reinforce logistical efforts on the ground.
On Wednesday, the mission had airlifted almost 30 tons of supplies to Bunia.
Peacekeepers raise awareness
MONUSCO’s response goes beyond logistics, as its peacekeepers are actively carrying out community awareness campaigns.
On Monday, the “blue helmets” were in Tchabi, located in the territory of Irumi, about 120 kilometers from Bunia, informing dozens of residents about key preventive measures, such as personal hygiene and the risks associated with the consumption of bushmeat.
A similar exercise was held the next day in Fataki, targeting internally displaced people and local communities.
Teams used loudspeakers to emphasize the importance of regular handwashing, proper use of protective equipment, and recognizing Ebola symptoms.
“These initiatives aim to improve community preparedness, reduce panic, and protect vulnerable populationsin line with MONUSCO’s civil protection mandate,” the UN mission said.
The health emergency adds to the hunger crisis
The outbreak is aggravating an already serious humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, warned the World Food Program (WFP), where armed groups have been active for decades.
It comes at a particularly dangerous time for the country in general, as 26.5 million people nationwide already face acute food insecurity.
This includes 10 million people in Ituri and three other eastern provinces suffering from severe hunger caused by conflict and displacement.
In Ituri alone, around 1.7 million people – more than a third of the population – are in crisis or worse levels of hunger.
Delivering life-saving assistance
“Indeed, The epicenter of the current health crisis is in the heart of WFP’s operational areas in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.positioning us to play a key role in supporting the overall response,” the UN agency said.
“We are already providing vital assistance across several pillars, including supporting frontline health workers to carry out response efforts safely.”
WFP is facilitating the transportation of humanitarian workers, medical supplies and essential cargo to hard-to-reach areas and stands ready to intensify its efforts.
It also provides critical logistical services on behalf of the broader humanitarian community, in addition to providing food and nutrition assistance to affected patients, survivors, contacts and households.
WFP currently needs more than $214 million to support operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and more than $10 million specifically for the Ebola response.
Concern for children
Meanwhile, the United Nations children’s rights agency, UNICEF, has expressed concern for children as they “are especially vulnerable to the impacts of Ebola outbreaks, including disruptions to essential services, loss of parents and caregivers, stigma, psychosocial distress and increased protection risks.”
UNICEF support to date has included the mobilization of almost 50 tonnes of supplies including disinfectants and soaps, personal protective equipment, water purification tablets and water tanks.
A Rapid Emergency Response team is also en route to Bunia to provide technical assistance in priority areas, including supporting risk communication and community engagement.
Although there are already more than 2,000 community health workers, additional capacity and resources are urgently needed, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
rare strain
The Democratic Republic of Congo has battled Ebola 17 times since the virus was first discovered 50 years ago.. The latest outbreak was caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain and there are currently no vaccines or medications to treat it.
To date, there have been 139 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and about 600 suspected cases, while Uganda has confirmed two cases.
The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, requiring countries to coordinate and cooperate in response, but not a pandemic emergency.
