WHO Urges Congo Ceasefire As Ebola Outbreak Worsens

The head of the World Health Organization on Wednesday urged an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, warning that continued fighting is hampering efforts to contain a growing Ebola outbreak by forcing large-scale displacement and increasing transmission risks in overcrowded camps.

The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment, was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO earlier this month, with reported cases continuing to rise rapidly.

Conflict and Displacement Fuel Health Crisis

Over 900 suspected cases and over 200 suspected deaths have so far been reported in three provinces in eastern Congo including North and South Kivu provinces, partially controlled by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

Aid group Save the Children said on Wednesday that a quarter of the confirmed deaths were children, calling for a scale-up in infection prevention measures.

Fighting has continued in eastern Congo despite mediation efforts led by the U.S. and others, and millions of people are displaced. The U.N. refugee agency said transit and reception sites in Uganda’s West Nile region which borders Congo are at more than double capacity, a document showed.

Aid groups are rushing staff and equipment to eastern Congo but attacks on medics due to community distrust have hampered efforts, they say. So far, donors have pledged around $500 million to help with the outbreak but not all has been disbursed, according to health officials.

Shortages Of Protective Equipment

A doctor in Butembo in the province of North Kivu in the DRC where there have been six deaths out of seven cases of Ebola told Reuters they have only two body bags left, amid shortages of equipment.

“If there are more deaths I don’t know how we will manage,” the doctor said on the condition of anonymity due to concerns it could impact their employment.

“We recently had to secure a body – we had no choice but to use our own money to buy a body bag,” the doctor added.

The doctor also reported critical shortages of soap, chlorine and personal protective gear including boots, body suits, masks and gloves, and said that foreign aid cuts to international and local NGOs were ​partly to blame.

(With inputs from Reuters)