The deteriorating security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to strain the response to the deadly Ebola outbreak and fears that the virus could spread into the region. DRC has been plagued by violence and insecurity for decades. But across the country, local populations and humanitarian workers are attacked by armed groups, necessitating the deployment of a large UN peacekeeping mission. Now the 15-member United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution demanding that all armed groups in the region respect international law and ensure full, safe, immediate and unhindered access for humanitarian and medical personnel, and their equipment, transport and supplies to the affected areas. “Humanitarian response teams and hospitals providing life-saving assistance and relief to those in need must be respected and protected, and that they must not be a target,” the Security Council said in the resolution. The UN body also stressed the need for a gender-sensitive response to the Ebola outbreak that addresses the specific needs of both men and women, given that men and women are affected differently by the socio-economic impacts of the outbreak. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 22 October, over 200 cases have been confirmed and at least 150 people have lost their lives since the outbreak was declared in DRC’s North Kivu and Ituri provinces in August. This is the tenth outbreak in the country in the past 40 years. In its latest assessment, the health agency warned of the potential for the virus to spread into Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi, and called on these countries to step up readiness efforts. In the resolution, the Council also noted that the Government of the DRC bears the primary responsibility to protect civilians subject to its jurisdiction and stressed the need for the international community to remain engaged in supporting national health systems, as well as maintaining financial, technical and in-kind support for efforts to control the outbreak. It also encouraged the Government and countries in the region to continue efforts to address and resolve the wider political, security, socioeconomic and humanitarian consequences of the Ebola outbreak, as well as to provide sustainable and responsive public health mechanisms.” The Security Council also expressed its appreciation towards the work of humanitarian and health staff on the ground and as well as the positive role of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (MONUSCO) in support of the response and in protecting civilians. – URN
The World Health Organisation has warned the Ebola virus could spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo into Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi and Uganda and has called on these nations to prepare for it. Since August there have been 200 cases reported of people carrying the disease in the DRC with at least 150 losing their life. A spokesman for the WHO said it was working closely with governments around the world to prevent an outbreak The United Nations has now deployed a peacekeeping mission to the area and called on armed groups to allow humanitarian workers access.