Ebola Outbreak in DRC Exacerbated by Decades-Long Development Failures and Aid Cuts

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with over 260 confirmed deaths and 1,000 infected, is being exacerbated by militia group fighting, humanitarian aid cuts, and decades-long development failures, according to François Moreillon, head of the DRC delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Speaking to The Independent, Moreillon emphasized the need for a broader view, highlighting that the crisis is both an acute protection issue and a structural one, stemming from three decades of conflict that have weakened institutions and access to essential services.

A key example of the region's structural challenges is the water service system in the affected areas, described as "on the verge of collapse." In Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, the water system, first introduced in the 1950s, has seen no major improvements, while in Goma, the capital of North Kivu, 500,000 people rely on a single vulnerable pipeline. Water and sanitation services are also severely limited in displacement camps.

The absence of effective health, water, electricity, and education services has left communities vulnerable not just to Ebola but also to mpox and cholera. Ongoing conflict means clinics are frequently looted, and medical professionals face security concerns.

The significant decline in humanitarian aid to the DRC (a $600m year-on-year decrease) has drastically impacted funding for critical strategies like contact tracing, which currently stands at 65% (up from 45% but far from the required 95%).

ICRC, with a $76m budget for DRC operations, is being forced to support non-traditional interventions, such as maintaining water systems in Bunia and Goma, due to the exodus of NGOs and the reluctance of development actors to invest in infrastructure.

Moreillon stressed the global relevance of the crisis, noting that in a globalized world, distant events can still have local impacts, a point underscored by France's recent confirmation of Europe's first Ebola case from this outbreak.