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On the 15th of May 2026, the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced the Ebola epidemic; two days later, the WHO declared a global public health emergency. According to the latest figures from the Congolese authorities, it has already claimed the lives of 196 people among the 837 confirmed cases. 31 of the 104 health zones in the country have been affected¹.
A new ordeal for the Congolese people
“Ebola is compounding the already serious humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC”, says Federica Badocco, country director for SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL, who is currently on the ground. The epicenter of the epidemic is in Ituri, a province home to nearly a million displaced people who have been forced to leave their homes due to armed conflict². Many live in makeshift camps where needs are immense.
The resurgence of Ebola represents an added risk for vulnerable communities, particularly as there is currently no available vaccine. Rapid action is needed to stem the spread of the virus, which has already reached neighbouring provinces and countries – as of the 15th of June, 19 cases had been confirmed, and one suspected case had been reported in Uganda³. All our teams on the ground are working to raise awareness and to protect the population.
Reviving the right habits
This is the 17th time in five decades that this central African country has faced Ebola. “Community engagement is absolutely crucial to re-instilling good hygiene and safety habits among residents, highlights Federica Badocco. Washing your hands regularly, keeping your distance, using chlorinated water and hand sanitiser, taking your shoes off when you enter anywhere… That’s what is most effective.” This work is being carried out with our local partners, who are the best placed to convey these messages and “to adapt the health response to the concerns of local communities”, adds Justine Muzik Piquemal, regional director for SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL.
Despite this context, humanitarian work must continue. While improving access to water, sanitation, and hygiene helps to fight the epidemic, agricultural recovery and income-generating activities are just as vital for residents. Our colleagues in Ituri have therefore been trained and equipped to continue delivering aid safely, even to the most remote areas.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Context and action- 117.8 millions inhabitants
- 172nd out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index
- 1,010,000 people assisted
Pooling expertise
SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL, which has been working in the DRC since 2000, has developed expertise in managing epidemics, and notably contributed to the fight against the previous outbreak of Ebola between 2018 and 2020. We are supporting local health authorities by providing supplies of equipment and by “actively participating in coordinated responses”, explains Federica Badocco. However, humanitarian organisations limited budgets to work within. For this reason, “we encourage donors to mobilise resources quickly in order to step up the response”, concludes our country director.
Header photo : © Guerchom Ndebo / SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL