The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has voiced deep concern after a series of attacks on health workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) left six people injured last week, complicating efforts to contain the country's worst-ever Ebola outbreak.
In a joint statement issued on Monday, the global humanitarian network and the Red Cross societies of the DRC and Uganda condemned the violence, stressing that such incidents are unacceptable and directly endanger both responders and the communities they serve.
According to the statement, on 17 August a Ugandan Red Cross convoy supporting the Ebola response was attacked in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak. One person was seriously injured, and two ambulances were pelted with stones and vandalised. The following day, two volunteers were hurt while carrying out a supervised burial in Haut-Uele province; they had to be evacuated for medical care, and two vehicles were damaged during the operation. Then, on Wednesday, three volunteers in Beni, North Kivu province, were attacked and injured, and equipment used in the Ebola response was destroyed.
These incidents are a stark reminder of the dangers humanitarian workers face when tackling epidemics in volatile regions, the Red Cross said. "Respect for humanitarian personnel and humanitarian activities is essential to ensuring that communities affected by epidemics and other crises continue to receive the assistance and services they urgently need," the statement read. It added that every injured worker and every damaged ambulance or piece of equipment reduces the capacity to provide emergency health services, putting more lives at risk and making the epidemic harder to contain.
Rising toll on volunteers
Since the Ebola outbreak was declared on 15 May, the Red Cross has recorded 11 violent incidents targeting its staff and assets. In total, 12 volunteers have been injured, several ambulances have been damaged, and emergency response equipment has been destroyed. The organisation called on communities, local leaders, and all relevant stakeholders to support and protect humanitarian action, emphasising that volunteers and health workers must be able to operate in complete safety, without fear of violence or intimidation.
The outbreak has hit the north and east of the DRC, regions where health infrastructure is fragile and where numerous armed groups have operated for decades. Tensions have also emerged between responders and local communities over the handling of Ebola victims' remains. Because the virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids, corpses remain highly contagious, and burials must be strictly supervised—a practice that has sometimes met with resistance.
This outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there are no vaccines or treatments. According to the World Health Organization, the DRC has recorded 5,375 confirmed cases and 2,557 deaths, making it the largest Ebola outbreak in the country's history. The situation has been further complicated by the record pace of transmission reported by UN agencies.
The Red Cross's warning comes as the international community steps up efforts to contain the disease. Earlier this month, the DRC was set to receive 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses to help curb the outbreak, though the Bundibugyo strain poses particular challenges. Meanwhile, the security situation remains a major obstacle, with attacks on health workers threatening to undo progress made in recent weeks.
In a separate development, the DRC and the M23 rebel group have agreed on a roadmap for peace talks in Switzerland, raising hopes that reduced conflict could improve access for health teams. However, the Red Cross insists that immediate action is needed to protect those on the front lines. "Every personnel injured and every ambulance, vehicle, or piece of equipment damaged reduces the capacity to provide emergency health and humanitarian services," the statement reiterated, underscoring the urgent need for safe and unhindered access to affected communities.
