DRC Ebola hospital set on fire as protesters demand access to bodies of dead relatives
africanews.com • • general
Key Points:
- Violence erupted in Ituri province, eastern DR Congo, after protesters in Rwampara set a hospital on fire when denied access to recover Ebola victims' bodies for burial.
- Security forces intervened to regain control of the hospital amid tensions linked to the handling of Ebola victims.
- The first Ebola case in South Kivu province, controlled by the M23 militia, was confirmed, complicating efforts to contain the outbreak in the conflict-ridden region.
- The M23 militia, which controls parts of eastern DR Congo with Rwanda's support, faces challenges managing the Ebola response despite governing the area with a parallel administration.
- The World Health Organization reports 139 deaths and nearly 600 probable Ebola cases in the current outbreak, which has been declared an international emergency.