Children, who account for 15 percent of confirmed cases and more than 25 percent of deaths since the outbreak in April, are almost twice as likely to die as adults, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“Children are especially vulnerable because they depend on their caregivers and cannot distance themselves from a sick parent or sibling in the same way that an adult can,” said UNICEF chief Catherine Russell.
“To best protect children, we need sustained access and the resources necessary to reach all affected communities.”
Addressing instability and misinformation online
More than 130 children have already lost one or both parents in Ituri, the origin and epicenter of the current outbreak.
“Our teams in Ituri have met with children who have lost their mothers, and in some cases both fathers, to Ebola,” Ms Russell said.
“Children are trying to make sense of the threat while surrounded by rumors and misinformation online.”
While testing capacity has recently improved, surveillance and contact tracing remain limited, including by insecurity and restricted access in a restive region marked by clashes between government forces and armed groups.
New daycare cares for Ebola orphans
Ituri province, in particular the health zones of Mongbwalu, Rwampara and Bunia, remains the epicenter, and cases have also been reported in North Kivu and South Kivu.
In Ituri, 135 children orphaned by the outbreak are receiving support, including psychosocial care, referral to essential social services and alternative care arrangements, said UNICEF, which has also opened a daycare center as a safe space for young people separated from their parents or caregivers and plans to operate two more soon.
Calling for immediate, safe and sustained humanitarian access to affected communities, UNICEF is initially requesting $70.7 million for its six-month response, with $20 million still unfunded, as part of the multi-partner continental Ebola preparedness and response plan to contain the spread of the disease.
The WHO and the “blue helmets” build a care unit in the Bunia prison
Behind the blue walls of Bunia Central Prison in Ituri, where 2,000 inmates live in close quarters, the World Health Organization (WHO) built an Ebola care and isolation unit as part of its support to health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to end the ongoing outbreak.
“The project was carried out in close collaboration with members of the local community, and the majority of the workforce was made up of prisoners who contributed their skills and work, demonstrating the positive impact of community participation and rehabilitation efforts in strengthening the local health response,” says Michele Di Marco, technical coordinator and architect at the World Health Organization (WHO).
Built in collaboration with the UN Peacekeeping Mission, MONUSCO, the four-bed temporary isolation unit aims to provide safe clinical care, protect the health of inmates and staff and help prevent the spread of the virus, which the UN health agency says is “an investment in preparedness”.
Protection beyond prison walls
Strict infection prevention and control measures are essential in prison settings, where overcrowding, frequent movements and close social interaction can accelerate the spread of infectious diseases such as Ebola, the WHO said.
For prison officials, the facilities offer peace of mind in the face of a disease that can spread quickly if left undetected, the WHO said.
By integrating Ebola preparedness into routine health services, the UN health agency said authorities are strengthening their capacity to respond quickly to public health threats while maintaining essential care for detainees.
As Bunia inmates regularly interact with visitors, meet in shared spaces and participate in activities such as football matches, the WHO said such environments make it essential to maintain robust prevention, screening and preparedness measures to reduce transmission risks. This protects both the prison population and the broader community, the agency said.
