Ebola in DR Congo - Christian Aid scales up response

Christian Aid

Christian Aid is scaling up its emergency work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) as the Ebola outbreak continues to escalate. The epidemic in eastern DR Congo began in August 2018. To date, it has infected more than 2,200 people and claimed more than 1,400 lives, making it the second largest in history. The affected regions - North Kivu and Ituri - are also battling high levels of insecurity and armed conflict.

Christian Aid is appealing for extra funds to extend its emergency work in high-risk parts of North Kivu. Christian Aid's Acting Country Manager for the DRC, Esperant Mulumba, says:

"This is a crisis of grave proportions, and time is running out. The Ebola virus has overwhelmed our fragile health infrastructure, in a country where more than 12 million people already desperately need humanitarian aid. To make matters worse, the epidemic has hit a region blighted by instability, armed violence, widespread displacement and food shortages. For a range of reasons, there has been denial about the existence of Ebola among some communities, leading to widespread mistrust in the health system and resistance to health workers - even attacks, in some cases. This has made it incredibly difficult for agencies, including our own Ministry of Health, to run an effective Ebola operation. All these factors have seriously undermined efforts to curb the outbreak. That is why the response to this epidemic cannot be limited to health work. It is critical that we work alongside communities - and through trusted local figureheads like faith leaders and traditional leaders - to combat widespread fear and distrust about the disease and its causes. The Ebola virus is having an impact far beyond the medical realm. For instance, people fleeing the outbreak are adding to the already high numbers of internally displaced populations, who need aid to survive. This displacement, as well as the epidemic itself, has interrupted agricultural activity, making food insecurity a growing concern."

During 2018, more than 1.8 million people were newly displaced across the DR Congo, many of them in North Kivu. Christian Aid's emergency response includes supporting its partners to build a dozen latrine blocks with handwashing facilities, while also installing or repairing a dozen water points in community sites such as schools, health centres, churches and market places. It is also handing out hygiene kits (containing soap, disinfectant and chlorine tablets) to 8,000 households and at 12 community sites.

Throughout North Kivu, Christian Aid's partners currently provide humanitarian aid to nearly 100,000 people, including those displaced by conflict, former refugees returning from neighbouring countries and vulnerable locals. Water and sanitation is a priority.

Link: www.christianaid.org.uk