UN intensifies DR Congo Ebola response despite escalating violence

The United Nations has intensified its Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the outbreak escalates, despite a surge in violence that threatens to undermine containment efforts. The third-largest Ebola outbreak on record, declared in early July 2026, has infected 2,124 people across five provinces, with Ituri province remaining the epicenter. Health authorities and humanitarian agencies are racing to expand surveillance, treatment, and community engagement, but escalating insecurity has disrupted operations and displaced civilians.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that national authorities tallied 2,124 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, with Ituri’s Bunia and Rwampara regions experiencing the highest transmission rates. The DRC government deployed ten ambulances to Ituri to bolster patient transport and case management, while partners focused on accelerating case alerts and ensuring safe burials. However, violence has repeatedly hindered these efforts. In North Kivu’s Beni territory, an attack on Wednesday left at least 10 people dead and seven injured, adding to a series of deadly incidents that have claimed 22 lives since Sunday. OCHA warned that the "surge in violence" has displaced civilians and complicated humanitarian access in an area already grappling with the outbreak.

The UN has called on all parties to protect health workers and ensure safe passage for aid teams. OCHA emphasized that such conditions are critical for containing the disease and delivering life-saving assistance. Meanwhile, the humanitarian community revised its response plan, increasing funding requirements to 2.3 billion U.S. Dollars for the remainder of 2026, with 313 million dollars allocated specifically for the Ebola response. The World Food Programme (WFP) has also scaled up operations, deploying air cargo to transport medical supplies and food aid to remote areas. David Stevenson, WFP’s DRC country director, described the outbreak as a "race against time," noting that without rapid action, the health crisis could exacerbate existing food insecurity affecting 26.5 million people in the DRC.

WFP’s efforts include providing emergency food assistance to over 146,000 people in Ituri province, where families are encouraged to isolate or seek treatment without sacrificing their livelihoods. The agency requires nearly 175 million dollars for the next six months to sustain these operations. Cross-border risks have also emerged, with UN officials warning of the potential for the virus to spread to Rwanda. Although no cases have been reported there, the movement of displaced persons and strained health systems increase the risk. To mitigate this, the UN allocated 2 million dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund to bolster Rwanda’s preparedness.

The outbreak’s trajectory remains uncertain, with health workers facing dual challenges: a rapidly spreading disease and a volatile security environment. In Ituri, where nearly 90 percent of cases are concentrated, the combination of high transmission rates and ongoing violence has created a precarious situation. OCHA reiterated its appeal for all actors to prioritize the safety of civilians and aid workers, stating that "safe and sustained humanitarian access" is essential to curbing the outbreak. As the UN and its partners push forward, the coming weeks will determine whether containment measures can outpace the virus’s spread in one of the world’s most fragile regions.