Beni Mayor Vows Legal Action Against Those Hindering Ebola Response

Beni's mayor, Jacob Nyofondo Te Kodale, has vowed to prosecute those who impede Ebola response efforts after an attack on a health team in the Mambango neighborhood. "I inform all the population of the city of Beni and its surroundings that the Ebola virus disease exists indeed," the mayor stated on Saturday, June 20. He warned that "any person or group of individuals who attempts to prevent response teams from carrying out their activities" will face legal consequences, with police instructed to arrest and bring them to justice.

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I inform all the population of the city of Beni and its surroundings that the Ebola virus disease exists indeed. I warn any person or group of individuals who will try to prevent the response teams from carrying out their activities. The police are instructed to arrest him and bring him to justice.

The mayor also criticized groups of young people for barricading streets, complicating the work of security forces. He indicated that anyone caught in the act would be brought before the courts. This warning comes as an incident was reported in the Rwampara health zone in Ituri, where a health surveillance team investigating a suspected Ebola case was attacked, resulting in injuries to several health workers.

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We must avoid all intoxication and disinformation around the Ebola virus disease.

Following the attack, Beni's youth leaders condemned the violence and called on residents, especially young people, to reject misinformation and cooperate with health personnel. "We must avoid all intoxication and disinformation around the Ebola virus disease," said Mussa Karim, president of the Beni Urban Youth Council, on June 20. He urged young people to mobilize with response teams to help curb the epidemic's spread, recalling the devastating impact of previous Ebola outbreaks on the community.

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It is a behavior that we must fight. We have already been hard hit by the 10th and 13th Ebola epidemics and we have lost loved ones. Faced with this new threat, we must stand together behind the caregivers and support their efforts to protect our community.