Armed groups in eastern DRC hindering Ebola response, says UN
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that five response workers were briefly detained on Tuesday by armed groups in Ituri province, the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak, accounting for more than 90 percent of all confirmed cases.
Personal protective equipment used by healthcare workers are also separated and transported to an incineration site for disposal in accordance with biomedical waste management protocols, as an infected citizen who has the Ebola virus has died in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Anadolu via AFP)
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UNITED NATIONS — Violent armed groups, some briefly detaining aid workers, are obstructing the Ebola response in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN humanitarians said on Wednesday (June 17).
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that five response workers were briefly detained on Tuesday by armed groups in Ituri province, the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak, accounting for more than 90 percent of all confirmed cases.
The office said that in South Kivu province, access remains heavily restricted in several areas as fighting continues to force civilians to flee. Nearly 20,000 people were forced from their homes on Monday, following clashes in Mwenga and Shabunda territories. Displaced families need food, shelter, health care, safe drinking water and protection.
In South Kivu alone, between January and May, at least 57 incidents directly affecting humanitarians were recorded, including threats against staff, interference in aid delivery, and movement restrictions.
"Despite these immense challenges, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners continue to support national authorities in containing the outbreak and deliver assistance," OCHA said. "However, humanitarian personnel cannot operate safely without security guarantees."
The UN reiterates its call on all parties to protect civilians and ensure safe, rapid and unhindered access to those in need.