World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Bunia, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 29 to address a severe Ebola outbreak [1].
The visit underscores the critical intersection of armed conflict and public health, as violence in the Ituri province prevents medical teams from reaching the most affected communities.
Tedros visited the epicentre of the outbreak to urge a temporary cessation of hostilities. He called for a ceasefire to ensure health workers can operate without threat of violence [2].
"Please, declare a ceasefire. Even briefly. Even just enough to let health workers through," Tedros said [3].
The scale of the epidemic continues to grow. Reports on the impact vary, with some data indicating up to 1,077 suspected cases and 246 deaths since the outbreak was declared [1]. Other reports from the same day cited nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths [4].
Tedros said the organization will do everything possible to stop the outbreak [2]. The Director-General said that the rapid spread of the virus requires immediate, unhindered access to the region to prevent further loss of life.
Bunia serves as the primary hub for the response in the Ituri province, but the security situation remains volatile. The WHO is coordinating with local authorities to establish safe corridors for the delivery of vaccines, and medical supplies to the interior.
“"Please, declare a ceasefire. Even briefly. Even just enough to let health workers through."”
The request for a ceasefire highlights a recurring challenge in the DRC, where systemic instability transforms manageable health crises into regional epidemics. When health workers cannot reach the epicentre of an outbreak due to active combat, the window for containment closes, increasing the likelihood of the virus crossing borders into neighboring countries.
