According to the Catholic aid organisation Misereor, the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is an impressive demonstration of how closely health crises and armed conflicts are linked. In the eastern Congolese provinces of Ituri, North and South Kivu in particular, the virus is spreading in an environment that has been characterised by violence, displacement and political instability for years. In view of the situation, the World Health Organisation warns of a "catastrophic collision of disease and conflict".
"Ebola is not only an enormous medical challenge - its spread is also favoured by the violent conflict in the country," explains Astrid Meyer, Regional Officer for Congo at Misereor. "Fear, attacks on health facilities and a lack of safe access for medical staff in the region are undermining measures to combat the epidemic."
According to reports from Misereor partner organisations in Congo, ongoing fighting and the presence of numerous militias are making it considerably more difficult to contain the virus. Aid teams are unable to work in many places and contact tracing is hardly possible in some cases. At the same time, there are repeated attacks on hospitals and treatment centres, with patients fleeing the measures out of fear or mistrust.
Supply gaps in contested areas
In the regions that are under Congolese military administration or controlled by the M23 militia, reliable medical care is hardly guaranteed. The already deficient state healthcare structures have largely collapsed or are not present as a result of the ongoing crisis. "The people on the ground are the ones who suffer," says Misereor expert Meyer. "There is often no access to basic medical care."
International responsibility is growing
Misereor also believes that the German government and the international community have a duty here. Germany has already reacted to Rwanda's role in the conflict by reviewing development cooperation and suspending new funding. "This is an important step - but it is not enough," emphasises Meyer. "Germany and the EU must consistently use their political and economic influence on the Congolese and Rwandan governments to end the violence in eastern Congo and ensure the protection of the civilian population."
According to Misereor, all affected regions must be given access to humanitarian aid in the short term. In addition, local health structures and partner organisations should receive significantly more support. In order to bring about a sustainable solution, diplomatic initiatives to end the conflict must also be combined with consistent political pressure on all parties involved in the conflict. In this context, the ecumenical initiative ("Pacte Social"), which promotes an inclusive dialogue for peace and reconciliation in the Congo and the Great Lakes region, should be strengthened.
Because: "Without progress in bringing peace to the region, health measures will only have a limited impact," emphasises Meyer
The Misereor partner organisation BDOM Mahagi, a network of 24 health facilities - including five hospitals - is currently stepping up its measures to combat the incidence of infection. At the same time, staff are receiving targeted training in order to recognise suspected cases at an early stage and treat them professionally.
Misereor is urgently dependent on donations to support the health facilities in the fight against Ebola in the DR Congo:
Bank: Pax-Bank für Kirche und Caritas eG
IBAN: DE75 3706 0193 0000 1010 10
BIC: GENODED1Pax
Keyword: "Ebola Central Africa"
