Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, DRC — The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a challenging Ebola virus disease (EVD) response in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. Community acceptance is a critical factor in this response, as armed violence, criminality, and resistance to public health measures complicate the situation. Between 16 May and 1 July 2026, 68 incidents were documented, with response teams targeted in 51 of them.
This highlights not only the risk to operational continuity but also the safety of personnel involved.
The analysis identifies three main sources of friction: safe and dignified burials (22 incidents), particularly in Bunia Health Zone; accusations targeting the response itself (10 out of 14 incidents), with a narrative in Mongbwalu suggesting that humanitarian actors introduced the virus; and highly localized friction, with two health zones accounting for nearly 40% of all incidents. This study is not intended to describe a general climate but to enable targeted action. It emphasizes the importance of understanding where and how tensions crystallize to sustain the response on the ground.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: Mercy Corps
