Luanda: Democratic Republic of the Congo The UN and its partners are actively supporting national authorities to scale up the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to African Press Organization, the first Ebola treatment centre in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province, was opened yesterday. This 50-bed facility aims to expand treatment capacity as the province continues to report new Ebola cases, with 24 confirmed cases recorded so far. The UN and its partners are also intensifying efforts in disease surveillance and community engagement in regions with a heightened risk of Ebola spread.
In Ituri Province, OCHA recently organized a meeting with over 120 representatives from the mining sector and local authorities to enhance awareness and monitoring in mining communities. These areas are of particular concern due to population movements that can increase transmission risks.
OCHA has warned that ongoing conflict complicates Ebola response efforts. Recent armed attacks in Haut-Uele and Ituri provinces have led to civilian displacements into Tshopo Province, raising concerns about the potential spread of the disease. The Ebola outbreak has now affected six of the 26 provinces in the DRC, with more than 6,800 confirmed cases and over 3,300 deaths reported as of 8 September.
OCHA emphasizes the necessity of safe and unhindered humanitarian access to affected communities and calls for sustained international support to contain the outbreak and provide essential life-saving assistance.