After an Ebola centre was attacked, peacekeepers moved in next door
UN Peacekeepers Bolster Ebola Response Following Centre Attack
Qinilo.com – A fresh mobile military installation established by the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo has enabled regional officials to maintain their efforts against the rapidly expanding Ebola epidemic. This intervention came after violent disturbances interfered with medical staff operations at a dedicated containment facility.
MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping operation in DR Congo, positioned its new base close to Nyakunde within Ituri Province on July 16. The strategic placement allows patrol units wearing blue helmets to provide enhanced security for healthcare facilities and those receiving treatment.
Recent Violence Disrupts Community
The installation commenced operations following a cluster of troubling events that rattled Nyakunde and surrounding areas. On July 15, local youth damaged the Ebola Treatment Centre through vandalism. Separately, the death of militia commander Kakani Tondabo triggered confrontations resulting in five additional fatalities.
Since authorities announced the current outbreak on May 15, health officials have documented over 2,500 infections and more than 1,000 deaths across the region. At least twelve medical sites have faced attacks, primarily driven by public anxiety, false information, and widespread skepticism toward external governance.
Restoring Confidence Through Presence
MONUSCO reported that establishing operations in Marabo, situated near Nyakunde, has brought stability back to the area and encouraged displaced residents to return to their homes.
“People quickly understood that we had come to help restore security and protect the Ebola Treatment Centre,” said Major Atiqur, commander of the new mobile base. “Today, we receive a warm welcome wherever we go.”
The treatment facility sits adjacent to Nyakunde General Referral Hospital and accommodates thirty-one patients simultaneously.
Declining Case Numbers Signal Progress
Dr. Charles Kashindi, who directs the hospital’s medical services, noted that educational initiatives in the community are beginning to reduce infection rates.
“Just a few weeks ago, we were receiving six to seven patients a day,” he said. “Today, we are seeing only two or three.”
Regional health leaders are now requesting that MONUSCO maintain a permanent deployment to guarantee patient security during treatment periods.
“Our mission is to restore hope to communities that have gone through extremely difficult times,” said local MONUSCO patrol commander Captain Ary.
Broader Regional Challenges
While the Ebola crisis continues, fighting between DR Congo’s military and the Rwanda-supported M23 rebel group persists throughout eastern territories, particularly within North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
The UN’s humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) documented that sixty or more civilians lost their lives since July 12 along the boundary separating North Kivu and Ituri—the primary hotspot for Ebola transmission.
On Thursday, thirty individuals perished in incidents near Mambasa town. Humanitarian organizations indicate that twenty-five thousand displaced persons have recently reached Beni in North Kivu, finding refuge either with host families already facing hardship or in vacant structures.
OCHA cautioned on Friday that emerging Ebola cases in Kisangani have heightened worries that the pathogen might cross the Congo River and reach additional regions of DR Congo.
The United Nations and collaborating agencies are currently developing infection prevention measures, enlarging treatment capacities, and organizing secure burial procedures to address potential further expansion across the region.
“The UN reiterates its call for the protection of civilians and for safe and sustained humanitarian access to people affected by violence and the Ebola outbreak,” the aid coordination agency said.
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