Ebola Surge and Mass Displacement Threaten Containment in Eastern DRC

The latest UN health data show 8,067 confirmed Ebola infections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, surpassing 8,000 for the first time since the outbreak began. Deaths have risen to at least 3,901, yielding a case‑fatality rate of 48.4 percent. This outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, is now the deadliest Ebola event ever recorded in the DRC and ranks second only to the 2014‑2016 West African epidemic, which infected more than 28,600 people.

Security incidents reported since 20 September have forced families to flee Kigonze camp in Bunia, Ituri province. Soldiers entered the site searching for weapons and suspected members of non‑state armed groups, and gunshots were heard. The camp, which houses nearly 19,000 displaced persons, saw a sharp outflow as residents sought refuge with host families. Across Ituri, more than 1.1 million people are displaced by conflict, including over 373,000 living in formal displacement sites, underscoring the scale of the humanitarian emergency.

UN OCHA and the World Health Organization warn that restricted access to Kigonze jeopardises Ebola response activities such as disease surveillance, contact tracing and infection‑prevention measures. Aid workers struggle to assess needs, distribute assistance and maintain protection services amid armed violence and intimidation. UN Humanitarian Coordinator Damien Mama emphasized the need to preserve the civilian character of the camp and to ensure displaced families can find safety and dignity. The combined effect of mass movement and limited access threatens to undermine containment efforts in the region’s epicentre.