UNITED NATIONS, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Escalating violence has injured 45 response and aid workers since the mid-May Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN humanitarians said Wednesday.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said its partners recorded the injuries in 76 security incidents targeting Ebola response personnel and other aid workers across the Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
OCHA said it is deeply concerned by escalating violence against Ebola responders, which is undermining efforts to contain the outbreak in the eastern DRC. The United Nations and its partners continue to step up efforts to engage with community leaders, local authorities, civil society representatives and affected communities to address concerns, counter misinformation, and foster broader understanding of response efforts.
According to health authorities, unidentified attackers raided an Ebola treatment center on Monday in Butembo, North Kivu province, setting fire to part of the facility.
"The UN reiterates its call for the protection of health workers, treatment facilities and response teams," OCHA said. "Without a secure environment that enables humanitarians and health workers to carry out their life-saving work, efforts to detect cases, trace contacts and provide life-saving care will be severely compromised."
The office said that as of Monday, national health authorities reported 1,708 confirmed Ebola cases across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. The outbreak has continued to expand geographically, with confirmed cases now reported in Boga Health Zone in Ituri. ■
