Inside Mongbwalu: Women beneath the surface

Editor's note: This exclusive series explores the impact of the Ebola outbreak on communities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. In this episode, CGTN Africa looks at women working in Mongbwalu's gold mines and the challenges of containing the virus in a highly mobile mining community.

Every day, dozens of women descend into Mongbwalu's artisanal gold mines to support their families. 

The mines attract highly mobile workers and traders from across eastern DR Congo and neighbouring countries, a movement that health experts say is complicating efforts to contain Ebola.

For many of these women, however, stopping work is not an option. They pay to have rocks crushed in the hope of finding gold, often risking their small investments and returning home with little or nothing. 

Some have formed cooperatives to protect themselves from robbery and sexual harassment.

As authorities tighten measures to control movement, Ebola prevention remains difficult across the mining areas. For women who depend on mining to feed their families, the choice is stark: Risk continuing to work, or risk going hungry.