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🇨🇩 DR Congo /Disasters & Emergencies

Ebola and Conflict in DRC: WHO Calls for 6-Month Humanitarian Truce

From Radio Okapi · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for a six-month humanitarian truce in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
  • The truce is intended to allow medical teams to reach populations affected by Ebola and halt the disease's transmission.
  • The ongoing insecurity is the main obstacle to the response, with health workers also at risk, as 158 have been infected and 45 have died.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has appealed for a six-month humanitarian truce in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This call comes as the region grapples with both an Ebola epidemic and ongoing conflict, hindering vital medical efforts.

The proposed truce aims to enable medical teams to access populations exposed to the Ebola virus and to effectively stop its transmission. The epidemic continues to spread across six provinces in the DRC. Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, speaking at the opening of the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, stated that while the tools to combat Ebola exist, a portion of the affected population remains out of reach for health teams.

The tools to combat Ebola exist, but a part of the affected populations remains out of reach for health teams.

— Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabiexplaining the challenges in combating the Ebola outbreak during the WHO Regional Committee for Africa session.

According to the UN health agency, insecurity is currently the primary barrier to the response. "When we manage to reach populations, we stop transmission. When we cannot, the virus continues to spread," Dr. Janabi emphasized. The safety of healthcare personnel has also become a critical concern. As of August 20, 158 health professionals had been infected, and 45 had died from the virus.

The WHO views the current situation as a race against the virus: reaching communities, protecting caregivers, and breaking transmission chains before the Ebola Bundibugyo strain can gain further ground. As of August 21, 2026, official figures reported 5,514 confirmed cases and 2,642 deaths across 57 health zones in the DRC. The call for a truce underscores the dire need for unimpeded access to combat the escalating health crisis amidst persistent conflict.

When we manage to reach populations, we stop transmission. When we cannot, the virus continues to spread.

— Dr. Janabihighlighting the critical impact of insecurity on controlling the Ebola outbreak.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Radio Okapi in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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