Press release
Action Against Hunger responds to the Ebola emergency in the DRC
The toll of the Ebola outbreak, officially declared on May 15, continues to rise. To date, more than 120 confirmed cases, over 900 suspected cases, and more than 220 deaths have been recorded in Ituri province and North Kivu. Present in both regions, Action Against Hunger is adapting its operations to respond to this large-scale crisis.
The current outbreak is disrupting already fragile health services in this remote area.
“We are present in the Mongbwalu health zone, the most affected by the outbreak, and in three other health zones in Ituri where we fear new infections in the coming days.
We are working in close coordination with health and administrative authorities in the area. Our teams are highly mobilized to support health facilities as effectively as possible, in order to protect healthcare workers, who are particularly exposed to the risk of infection,” explains Julie Drouet, Country Director of Action Against Hunger in the DRC.
In 12 health facilities in Mongbwalu, Action Against Hunger is providing protective equipment for medical staff, as well as infection prevention and control supplies (chlorine, sprayers for disinfection, cleaning equipment, etc.).
In the DRC, only 37% of the population has access to a safe water source, and only 30% of health facilities have access to a reliable water supply. “In this context, infection prevention measures such as handwashing are difficult to implement,” adds Ms. Drouet. “That is why we are also supporting health facilities through the rehabilitation of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure,” she continues.
A health challenge against a backdrop of structural crisis
The northeast of the DRC is one of the most fragile and conflict-affected regions in the world. The insecurity situation has led to the displacement of more than 920,000 people in Ituri province. The Congolese population faces structural vulnerabilities that make epidemics in eastern DRC particularly dangerous.
“In the Ituri region, 1.5 million people are facing food insecurity, and one in three people needs humanitarian assistance. The population in this region relies heavily on local markets to feed their families. Movement restrictions will therefore have a direct impact on their livelihoods and their ability to meet their basic needs,” warns Julie Drouet.
As the situation evolves rapidly, it is a real race against time to contain the outbreak. Humanitarian NGOs on the ground are facing major logistical challenges.
“For the moment, even humanitarian flights to and from Ebola-affected areas are suspended, which complicates team movements. Funding also remains very limited, making activity planning difficult.”
Moreover, the region was already experiencing a humanitarian crisis prior to the Ebola outbreak, further worsening an already complex situation: “We cannot afford to stop our existing emergency projects. Our teams must adapt how activities are implemented to protect communities and our staff in order to break the chain of virus transmission, but our emergency actions must continue,” concludes Julie Drouet.