Attacks on Ebola Treatment Centers Increase in Eastern DR Congo

Two attacks on Ebola treatment facilities occurred in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo over the past two days, raising concerns about the spread of the disease. According to local sources, on May 14, a group of angry residents stormed the Rwampara health center, demanding the return of the body of a relative who died from Ebola. The following day, a tent provided by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) at a hospital in Mongbwalu, Ituri province, was set on fire.

The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) reported that the incident occurred after a patient with Ebola symptoms died. Medical staff isolated the body following strict protocols, but tensions erupted during burial preparations, leading to two tents being burned. “Despite the incident, teams managed to secure the patient's body for a safe and dignified burial, in line with Ebola response standards,” ALIMA added.

Health workers in the affected area continually face community resistance due to strict burial procedures. These procedures require specialized handling of bodies to prevent virus transmission. Aid organizations say tensions often stem from fear, rumors, and mistrust of medical teams. Gloire Idriss, a resident of Rwampara, said: “Some people here believe Ebola is a business. When health workers refuse to hand over the body, they think they are trafficking organs.”

LAW AND CUSTOM CLASH: DR Congo Health Minister Roger Kamba stated that bodies of Ebola victims remain highly infectious and can only be handled by trained teams in protective gear. “Bury the dead safely. The dead should not drag the living into the grave with them,” he said. However, in eastern DR Congo, local customs require relatives and neighbors to gather at the deceased's home for mourning, and some touch the body as a final farewell. Lokana Jean, 40, a resident of Mongbwalu, shared: “When my daughter died of Ebola last month, the medical team came to bury her. We couldn't say a final goodbye. It was heartbreaking to watch her funeral helplessly, without our cultural rituals.”

OUTBREAK INTENSIFIES: As of May 16, nearly 180 people have died and close to 800 cases have been recorded, according to the DR Congo Ministry of Public Health. Authorities in Ituri province have imposed restrictions on gatherings, suspended wake services, and banned the movement of bodies between locations. Dr. Rodriguez Kisando, a health and environment expert, warned: “When an outbreak occurs, rumors spread quickly. If accurate information is not shared in time, people will believe anything, and that's when violence happens.” He also expressed concern that attacks and patients fleeing before completing treatment could accelerate the spread.

STRAINED RESPONSE: With international aid sharply declining, the national budget is covering a large portion of response costs, and shortages are increasingly evident. ALIMA is calling for more international support as resources for Ebola detection, treatment, and prevention remain critically lacking. A senior official in Rwampara said treatment centers are overwhelmed: “We receive new infections almost every day. Current resources are insufficient for the scale of the outbreak.”

REGIONAL COOPERATION: The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has placed 10 African countries on high alert, including South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Congo, Burundi, Angola, the Central African Republic, and Zambia. DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan have agreed to strengthen cross-border coordination, including surveillance, early warning systems, border controls, and enhanced testing and response capacity.