Kinshasa: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a warning regarding the escalating spread of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the increasing risks it presents to displaced communities in the region.
According to African Press Organization, as of June 17, there have been 896 confirmed cases and 232 deaths across 31 health zones in the DRC. Meanwhile, Uganda has confirmed 19 cases and two deaths. Although there have been no reported cases among refugees, the potential for the disease to spread among displaced populations remains a significant concern.
More than 2 million forcibly displaced individuals, including over 320,000 refugees, reside in high-risk areas within the DRC, where ongoing conflict exacerbates the spread of Ebola. Concerns are mounting regarding population movements to and from affected zones, emphasizing the need to integrate public health efforts with protection interventions.
On June 7, UNHCR documented the arrival of approximately 2,250 individuals from Mbau, located 20 kilometers from Beni, one of the outbreak's epicenters. These people fled to Oicha, North Kivu, an Ebola-affected area already hosting over 14,300 displaced persons, after armed group activity incited panic.
The outbreak heightens fear and misinformation among refugees and internally displaced people already grappling with trauma and inadequate humanitarian aid. On June 3, distrust led some internally displaced persons to impede response teams' access following two Ebola-related deaths at the Kpangba site in Ituri Province, near Bunia, showcasing how mistrust can obstruct life-saving measures.
In response to the expanding outbreak in conflict-prone areas, collaboration with community leaders is crucial for fostering trust, dispelling misinformation, and aligning public health efforts with population movements. In Bunia and other high-risk regions, UNHCR is backing government-led response strategies by facilitating training for over 100 community leaders on Ebola prevention. These leaders are then able to communicate essential information in local languages and trusted formats.
The risk extends beyond national borders. Eastern DRC is a part of a region interconnected by trade, family ties, and refugee movements, linking countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and South Sudan. UNHCR is bolstering preparedness in these nations by working with governments, the World Health Organization, and partners to enhance surveillance, screening, infection prevention, communication, and hygiene support in refugee-hosting areas and border corridors.
Governments are urged to lead the response and safeguard public health. Some neighboring countries have introduced temporary movement restrictions at borders in reaction to the outbreak. However, UNHCR argues that border closures are ineffective in halting the epidemic's spread and may drive individuals towards unofficial crossing points, complicating health screening and surveillance efforts. Public health measures should maintain access to asylum for those in need of international protection, with suitable screening, triage, isolation, and referral systems in place.
UNHCR and its partners are collaborating with local authorities to enhance community-led preventive measures, ensuring that displaced communities are included in national health responses and protected from discrimination, with particular focus on women and girls. Given the rapid rise in cases, the response must scale up accordingly, remain anchored in national leadership, and not compromise other essential services like primary health care, gender-based violence services, and education.
As part of an inter-agency response, UNHCR is seeking $14 million for Ebola preparedness and response from July to November. This funding aims to assist forcibly displaced people and host communities in the DRC and Uganda and to strengthen preparedness in Burundi, Rwanda, and South Sudan. The funds will bolster health and sanitation systems, support front-line personnel, expand isolation and referral capacity, and ensure that displaced individuals are not excluded from the broader public health response.