How Conflict Fuels Deadly Disease Outbreaks: The Case of Ebola in DRC

Disease outbreaks, such as cholera in Sudan and Yemen or Ebola in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), become significantly more deadly when they emerge in areas affected by armed conflict. This deadly intersection is starkly illustrated in the Kigonze camp near Bunia, eastern DRC.

D'zirava Lety, an internally displaced person (IDP) living in the camp with 20,000 others, described the dire conditions. "There is no water. In the entire camp, there is only one tap. Another challenge is the lack of toilets. Children relieve themselves anywhere," she said. Lety noted the scarcity of hygiene kits, making it difficult to follow health advice like handwashing, while also facing stigma when entering town to sell goods.

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There is no water. In the entire camp, there is only one tap. Another challenge is the lack of toilets. Children relieve themselves anywhere. With the disease that has arrived, we are being told to wash our hands, but there are no hygiene kits. And when we go into town to sell our products, people push us away, saying that we are carrying diseases.

Camp officials reported that the Ebola virus was detected among individuals who had died in June. Since the outbreak's identification in May, the Bundibugyo strain has been circulating, leading to a significant increase in daily deaths. By mid-July, DRC had recorded 1,963 confirmed infections and 719 deaths, with Uganda reporting additional cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that many cases go undetected.

Ongoing armed conflict in eastern DRC severely hampers containment efforts. The virus spreads more easily due to overcrowded displacement camps and the forced movement of people. Juste Codjo, a security researcher, emphasized the need for protection. "Health workers, treatment centers, laboratories, ambulances, medical supply routes must always be protected from military interference and political competition," Codjo stated. He added that while international humanitarian law protects healthcare access during conflicts, practical negotiations with all territorial actors are crucial to enforce these obligations.

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Health workers, treatment centers, laboratories, ambulances, medical supply routes must always be protected from military interference and political competition.