Ebola outbreak risk high in Ituri displacement sites

Displaced persons in Ituri province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, face a heightened risk of an Ebola outbreak due to insufficient preventive measures and the continuous arrival of people from epidemic-affected zones.

According to medical sources, new arrivals from areas experiencing the Ebola epidemic are joining displacement sites, including Djaiba in Fataki. Many come from Mongwalu, a major hub of the disease. This influx strains the already inadequate prevention measures in place within the sites.

Health officials and site managers report that Ebola prevention measures are largely absent or insufficient in most displacement sites, both in Bunia and across the province. Sites like Kigonze and ISP, hosting nearly thirty thousand people, have very few handwashing facilities, which are often inadequate for the population size. Access to clean drinking water also remains a significant challenge for many displaced families.

Similar conditions are observed in numerous other sites on the outskirts of Bunia, such as Mbala and Tséré, and in many locations within the Djugu territory. Health workers and displaced persons' committees in Ituri are urging authorities and their partners to intensify prevention actions. They specifically request the installation of more handwashing points, the distribution of hygiene materials, and strengthened health monitoring to protect the lives of the displaced population.