11 attacks hampered the fight against Ebola in Congo.
Attacks targeting Red Cross staff and volunteers are further hampering efforts to control the Ebola outbreak in Congo, amid a continuing high death toll.
Ebola outbreak in Congo faces wave of violence.
On August 24, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, along with the Red Cross Societies of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, condemned the attacks that injured six Ebola prevention and control workers in the past week.
Earlier, on August 17, a convoy of the Uganda Red Cross assisting in the Ebola response was attacked in Ituri province, the current epicenter of the outbreak. One person was seriously injured, while two ambulances were pelted with stones and vandalized.
A day later, two volunteers were injured while carrying out burials in Haut-Uele province. On August 19th, in Beni, North Kivu province, three more volunteers were attacked and injured, while equipment used for epidemic control was destroyed.
Since the outbreak was announced on May 15, 12 volunteers have been injured in 11 acts of violence, and numerous ambulances and emergency response equipment have been damaged or destroyed.
Violence is hindering efforts to control Ebola.
The Red Cross warns that every injured worker, every destroyed ambulance or piece of equipment reduces the ability to provide emergency medical services and relief, putting more people at risk and making it harder to control the epidemic.
The situation is particularly worrying in northern and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where healthcare infrastructure is limited and numerous armed groups have been active for decades.
Tensions have also arisen between epidemic control forces and some local communities regarding the handling of the bodies of those who died from Ebola. Because the virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids, the burial of victims must adhere to strict safety procedures.
WHO calls for social distancing.
This outbreak is caused by the rare Ebola Bundibugyo strain, for which there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment. This is the largest Ebola outbreak in the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded5,375 casesinfectedBruceOkay corpse receive,in there2,557People death ghost.
On August 24, the WHO urged authorities to implement social distancing measures to limit the spread of the virus, while also streamlining procedures to allow international medical teams and supplies to enter the country quickly.
The WHO also recommended setting up traffic checkpoints for health checks in areas where the disease is spreading and restricting motorcycles to carrying only one passenger.
