WHO chief urges DRC ceasefire as Ebola outbreak grows
The Story
The head of the World Health Organization called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to help tackle the Ebola outbreak, as Uganda closed its border. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on social media that the region faces a “catastrophic collision of disease and conflict” with the outbreak outpacing the response.
Key Facts
- The WHO chief called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern DRC to address the Ebola outbreak.
- Uganda closed its border with the DRC for four weeks, except for Ebola response teams, humanitarian and security operations, and food/cargo transport, according to senior Ugandan health official Diana Atwine.
- The number of suspected cases in eastern DRC is nearing 1,000, with at least 220 suspected deaths; 101 cases confirmed as of Tuesday, and more than 3,000 possible contacts under investigation, per DRC health ministry.
- In Uganda, there were seven confirmed Ebola cases and one death as of Sunday, according to WHO data.
- Save the Children said a quarter of confirmed deaths were children.
- The outbreak was confirmed on 15 May in Ituri province; it has spread to rebel-held areas of North Kivu and South Kivu.
- The UN refugee agency said transit and reception sites in Uganda’s West Nile region are at more than double capacity.
- Earlier, the WHO had advised against border closures, saying it would push people to use informal crossings.
- Eastern DRC has a number of armed groups; insecurity had been worsening before the outbreak.
- Attacks on health facilities have hindered the response; people attacked a hospital in Mongbwalu, causing 18 Ebola patients to flee on Saturday and seven more on Sunday.
- A doctor in Butembo reported critical shortages of body bags, soap, chlorine, and personal protective gear, citing foreign aid cuts as partly to blame.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
The article does not specify the exact current number of suspected deaths or confirmed cases after the DRC health ministry’s Tuesday update. It also does not clarify how many armed groups are involved or the precise number of displaced persons in Ituri beyond the approximate 1 million previously reported.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – head of the World Health Organization
- Diana Atwine – senior Ugandan health official
- Dr Richard Lokodu – medical director of hospital in Mongbwalu, Ituri
- Philippe Guiton – DRC director of World Vision
- An anonymous doctor in Butembo, North Kivu
Sources: The Guardian
