Download logoOCHA says that ongoing violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to drive displacement and complicate efforts to respond to the Ebola outbreak.
In the province of Ituri, local sources indicate that at least 60 civilians have been killed in attacks in Mambasa Territory since the start of the month, triggering fresh displacement.
In the neighbouring province of South Kivu, humanitarian partners report that clashes in Fizi Territory have displaced more than 40,000 people since July. In North Kivu, active fighting in parts of the province continues to force families to flee their homes.
These developments are unfolding in areas affected by Ebola, where insecurity and population movements continue to hamper surveillance and response efforts. As of 14 September, national health authorities had reported more than 7,300 confirmed cases and over 3,500 deaths.
Despite these challenges, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to scale up their response. In North Kivu province, where Ebola cases continue to rise, three additional treatment facilities are under construction, while screening and control points are being expanded to support early detection.
UNICEF is also supporting the Ministry of Education in providing infection prevention and control supplies to 190 schools in outbreak hotspots in North Kivu. The World Food Programme continues to provide nutritional support to Ebola patients, caregivers and frontline health workers.
OCHA again calls on all parties to protect civilians and ensure safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access. Maintaining access to communities in need is essential to delivering life-saving assistance, supporting public health interventions, and bringing the outbreak under control.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
