UMVA has learned that a devastating fire ravaged an Ebola treatment center in eastern Congo, the epicenter of the deadly outbreak, on Thursday, as angry residents clashed with authorities over the body of a suspected victim.
The violent confrontation began when local youths attempted to retrieve the body of a friend who had reportedly died of Ebola from Rwampara Hospital, setting off a chain reaction of chaos and destruction. A witness described the scene, saying that police intervened to try to calm the situation, but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful in preventing the young people from setting fire to the center.
The people broke into the center, setting fire to objects inside, and a reporter witnessed what appeared to be the body of at least one suspected Ebola victim being burned inside the facility. The Alliance for International Medical Action confirmed that two tents used to treat Ebola patients were set on fire at the hospital, putting the lives of six patients at risk.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the government spokesperson for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Patrick Muyaya, assured that medical care was continuing normally and all six patients were accounted for. He called for calm while condemning violence against health facilities and medical staff, urging the public to remain vigilant and supportive of the response efforts.
The incident highlighted growing tensions between health officials enforcing strict Ebola containment measures and local customs surrounding funerals and burial rites. Deputy Senior Commissioner Jean Claude Mukendi explained that the individuals who burned the tents did not understand the protocols surrounding Ebola burials, which require bodies to be buried according to regulations to prevent the spread of the disease.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the Ebola outbreak has claimed 160 suspected deaths and 671 suspected cases across two provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The situation is further complicated by the risk of cross-border transmission, as neighboring Uganda has reported two cases, including one death.
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency, and the U.S. issued an urgent travel warning for the DRC shortly afterward. With nearly $4 million in emergency funding approved to support national authorities responding to the outbreak, officials are racing against time to contain the epidemic and prevent a wider crisis.
