DRC: Ebola treatment center in Butembo attacked April 19 /update 5

Event

Suspected militiamen assaulted an Ebola treatment center in Butembo (North Kivu province) on Friday, April 19, killing one World Health Organization (WHO) responder. According to local officials, the gunmen attempted to burn down the center in the Katwa district before being repelled by security forces. An unconfirmed number of people were also wounded in the attack and one gunman was killed. Further attacks targeting healthcare workers and facilities in North Kivu province are possible in the near term.

Context

The Ebola treatment center in Butembo has been attacked repeatedly by militants operating in the area. Previously on March 9, at least one police officer was killed and several aid workers were wounded during an attack. The facility, previously run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, is now being operated by the Congolese health ministry, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF and reopened on March 3. It was immediately closed on February 27 after gunmen set the center on fire and engaged security forces.

The government's limited presence in the DRC's eastern provinces, including North Kivu, as well as the presence of numerous armed groups and local self-defense militias have led to continued insecurity in the area. Humanitarian organizations have stated that security conditions in the Kivu regions present a major obstacle to delivering humanitarian assistance to those in need, as kidnappings, including of Congolese and foreign aid workers, are frequent in the area.

Advice

Individuals in North Kivu province are advised to monitor the situation, remain vigilant for militant behavior, and take measures to prevent contraction and spread of Ebola virus disease (EVD).