Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
After the declaration of an Ebola outbreak on 15 May in Ituri province, eastern DR Congo, UN agencies have mobilized to support health authorities in both DRC and Uganda. Within 72 hours, the World Health Organization (WHO) supplied 11.5 tonnes of medical equipment, including personal protective gear, medical kits, tents, and water, sanitation, and hygiene items to aid infection prevention and case management.
The UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) contributed by deploying air assets to create an "air bridge," transporting WHO emergency supplies from Nairobi to Bunia, the provincial capital. Additionally, four vehicles and two motorcycles were sent to enhance logistics. By the following Wednesday, about 30 tonnes of supplies had been airlifted to Bunia.
Beyond logistics, MONUSCO peacekeepers conducted community awareness campaigns in locations such as Tchabi in Irumi territory and Fataki. These campaigns informed residents, including internally displaced persons, about Ebola prevention, emphasizing handwashing, use of protective equipment, and symptom recognition to improve preparedness and reduce panic, in line with their civilian protection mandate.
The Ebola outbreak is worsening an existing humanitarian crisis, with the World Food Programme reporting that 26.5 million people in DR Congo face acute food insecurity nationwide. In Ituri and surrounding eastern provinces, 10 million people suffer from severe hunger driven by conflict and displacement, with 1.7 million in Ituri alone experiencing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity.