Kinshasa: At least 180 children have lost both parents or primary caregivers in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Ebola outbreak, equivalent to nearly two children every day, since the deadly virus was declared 100 days ago, Save the Children reported. Thousands more children have lost one parent or caregiver, exposing them to heightened risks of abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and severe psychological distress as families and already fragile social services struggle to cope.
According to African Press Organization, latest figures from the Provincial Division of Social Affairs in Ituri, the epicenter of the outbreak, show that 180 children-90 boys and 90 girls-have lost both parents to the virus that was declared on May 15. Most are now being cared for by relatives or in state-run childcare facilities while longer-term family-based arrangements are found. A further 114 children, including 61 boys and 53 girls, are currently separated from their parents and are being supported by humanitarian organizations and family members while their parents receive treatment for Ebola.
Children who are orphaned, separated, or left unaccompanied by Ebola face heightened risks of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, physical violence, forced recruitment by armed groups, and severe emotional distress. In communities affected by the virus, children can also face stigma and isolation, while strained protection systems leave many without the care and support they urgently need.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, over 4,945 cases of Ebola and 2,325 deaths have been reported to date. At least 800 children are confirmed to have contracted the disease, with more than 357 children dying, accounting for nearly 32% of total confirmed deaths as of August 5. The true number is likely to be higher, Save the Children said. The outbreak has expanded rapidly over the past 100 days. According to Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), it has recorded about nine times more confirmed cases and six times more deaths than were reported during the same period of the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic.
With the outbreak still spreading-now in six provinces up from just two-Africa CDC estimates that only about 10% of potentially exposed contacts have been identified, while about four in five new infections are found outside known chains of transmission. Three out of every four deaths are occurring in the community rather than in health facilities, suggesting people are not accessing treatment in time. An investigation reported by Science also suggests Ebola may have been spreading around Mongbwalu in Ituri province as early as January-at least four months before the outbreak was officially declared.
Save the Children is working with the government and partners in Ituri province to establish safe spaces called Observation Care Centres for children whose parents or caregivers are currently being treated for Ebola and don't have alternative family care arrangements. These spaces will host children on a full-time basis while their parents receive care in the Ebola Treatment Centre located in the same compound. Throughout a 21-day surveillance period, the children will sleep, eat, live, and be supported psychologically in a safe environment.
Emmanuel Kalinde, Child Protection Manager in Ituri, emphasized the vulnerability of these children, stating that grief can leave a child incredibly vulnerable, especially in communities already facing conflict and displacement. Greg Ramm, Save the Children's Country Director in the DRC, highlighted the broader impact of the outbreak, saying that it is not just taking lives but also the support systems children rely on, leaving them at risk of exploitation, abuse, neglect, or permanent disruption to their futures.
Save the Children is supporting infection prevention, community engagement, case detection, and referral, as well as the continuity of essential services for children and families. The aid agency is also providing psychosocial support and child protection services, including support for children who have lost caregivers, while working to ensure children can continue learning and access healthcare, nutrition, and protection services safely throughout the crisis. Save the Children has been in the DRC since 1994, partnering with local organizations, international agencies, and government authorities to deliver life-saving support in various sectors for children and their families.