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As health authorities in Congo and Uganda respond to the resurgence of this deadly disease, the UN is also helping to strengthen preparedness and raise awareness in at-risk communities.
UN aid workers have been working since the outbreak was declared on May 15 in Ituri province in eastern DRC.
Within 72 hours, the World Health Organization (WHO) sent 11.5 tons of medical supplies and equipment from the capital, Kinshasa, and from its regional centers in Dakar and Nairobi.
The supplies provided include personal protective equipment, medical equipment and tents. Water, sanitation and hygiene supplies are also provided to help prevent infections and support effective case management.
UN mission support
WHO said collaboration with partner organizations and the private sector was critical.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, known as MONUSCO, quickly deployed its air assets to support the Congolese authorities and UN agencies.
Starting Sunday, MONUSCO established an “air bridge” to transport WHO emergency supplies from Nairobi to Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. Four vehicles and two motorbikes were also sent to the city to strengthen logistics efforts on the ground.
On Wednesday, the mission was flown nearly 30 tons of supplies to Bunia.
Peacekeepers spread awareness
MONUSCO’s response is more than just logistics as its peacekeeping forces are also actively taking action public awareness campaign.
On Monday, the “blue helmets” were in Tchabi, located in the Irumi region about 120 kilometers from Bunia, providing information to dozens of residents about key preventive measures such as personal hygiene and the risks associated with consuming bushmeat.
A similar exercise was carried out the next day in Fataki, targeting internally displaced people and local communities.
The team used loudspeakers to emphasize the importance of regular hand washing, proper use of protective equipment, and providing awareness Ebola symptom.
“This initiative aims to increase community preparedness, reduce panic, and protect vulnerable populationsin line with MONUSCO’s civilian protection mandate,” the UN mission said.
The health emergency adds to the hunger crisis
The outbreak is exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in eastern Congo, the World Food Program (WFP) be warnedwhere armed groups have been active for decades.
This comes at a very dangerous time for the country as a whole 26.5 million people across the country are already facing acute food insecurity.
This number includes 10 million people in Ituri and three other eastern provinces who are experiencing severe hunger due to conflict and displacement.
In Ituri alone, some 1.7 million people – more than a third of the population – are in crisis or at a more severe level of hunger.
Provide essential assistance
“Of course, The epicenter of the current health crisis is in the heart of WFP’s operational area in eastern Congopositioning us to play a key role in supporting the overall response,” the UN agency said.
“We are already providing critical assistance across several pillars – including support to frontline health workers to enable response efforts safely.”
WFP facilitates the transport of aid workers, medical supplies and essential cargo to hard-to-reach areas and is ready to scale up those efforts.
They also provide essential logistics services on behalf of the wider humanitarian community, in addition to providing food and nutritional assistance to patients, survivors, contacts and affected households.
WFP currently needs more than $214 million to support operations in Congo, and more than $10 million specifically for the Ebola response.
Concern for children
Meanwhile, the United Nations children’s rights agency UNICEF own voice concerns for children because they are “particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the Ebola outbreak, including disruption of essential services, loss of parents and caregivers, stigma, psychosocial distress, and increased risk of protection.”
UNICEF’s support to date includes mobilizing nearly 50 tonnes of supplies including disinfectants and soap, personal protective equipment, water purification tablets and water tanks.
The Emergency Response Team is also en route to Bunia to provide technical assistance in priority areas, including support for risk communications and community engagement.
Although there are already more than 2,000 community health workers, additional capacity and resources are urgently needed, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Rare tension
Congo has fought Ebola 17 times since the virus was first discovered 50 years ago. This latest outbreak is caused by a rare strain of Bundibugyo, and there is currently no vaccine or medicine to treat it.
To date, there have been 139 deaths in Congo, and around 600 suspected cases of the disease, while Uganda has confirmed two cases.
WHO stated that this outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern – requiring countries to coordinate and cooperate in responding to it – but not a pandemic emergency.
