Violence in Congo’s North Kivu Undermines Ebola Fight as Ukrainians Face Uncertain Returns

Local sources reported that overnight on Thursday, more than 30 civilians were killed in Beni Territory, North Kivu, after an attack attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces. The assault burned homes and destroyed a health centre, killing several patients. UN aid coordination office officials said disinformation about frontline health workers has fueled attacks, endangering the predominantly Congolese staff who continue to provide care despite the insecurity.

The violence has directly disrupted the Ebola response. Authorities noted that people who had been in contact with Ebola patients fled an observation centre, forcing response teams to suspend operations and hampering contact‑tracing. The country now records more than 10,700 confirmed Ebola cases and over 5,200 deaths. The UN has urged all parties to protect civilians, respect international humanitarian law, and guarantee safe, unhindered access for humanitarian and health workers, warning that continued fighting undermines containment efforts.

A new IOM study shows that nearly nine in ten Ukrainians crossing back from Poland intend to stay in Ukraine for no more than 30 days. On average, respondents have spent almost three years abroad, yet most have crossed the border at least three times since displacement began. About 5.9 million Ukrainians remain displaced abroad as refugees. Visits are primarily to reunite with family—85 % of trips aim at this purpose—while only eight per cent plan to remain longer than a month, citing security concerns, damaged housing, limited income and health‑care needs as barriers to sustainable return.