Overcrowded displacement sites fuel Ebola threat in eastern DR Congo, UN warns

The United Nations has warned that overcrowded displacement sites in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are becoming increasingly vulnerable to Ebola as the country's largest outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain continues to spread.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that confirmed Ebola cases have been identified in at least 16 displacement sites across Ituri province, where more than 270,000 people displaced by conflict are living in crowded conditions with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare—factors that heighten the risk of transmission.

The outbreak has now reached 2,344 confirmed cases across five provinces, according to national health authorities. Ituri remains the epicenter, accounting for nearly 90% of all confirmed infections.

UN agencies and humanitarian partners are expanding prevention efforts by installing handwashing stations and conducting community awareness campaigns, but OCHA warned that the response is being outpaced by growing humanitarian needs.

The warning comes after the United Nations and its partners revised the Democratic Republic of the Congo's 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan, increasing funding requirements from $1.4 billion to $2.3 billion. The appeal seeks to provide life-saving assistance to 10.7 million people through the end of the year, including communities affected by the Ebola outbreak.

OCHA urged donors to step up financial support, warning that years of conflict, displacement, and deteriorating living conditions are undermining efforts to contain the virus and protect vulnerable populations.