Conflict, displacement in Ituri threaten DRC Ebola response

Conflict, displacement in Ituri threaten DRC Ebola response

Renewed violence in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is forcing mass displacement from a region where authorities are struggling to contain the Ebola outbreak. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, who visited the area recently, estimated that some 400,000 persons are displaced throughout Ituri Province.  The International Organization…

MSF: Ebola victims are patients, not a biothreat

MSF: Ebola victims are patients, not a biothreat

The Doctors Without Borders medical NGO says the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo is failing, because of increasing community mistrust but also because of a militarized stance toward communities and their patients. “Right now we are painting the Ebola epidemic as a security emergency,” said Dr. Joanne…

MSF warns of increasing threat on Mali-Niger border

Humanitarian aid workers say the threat of violence because of armed groups along Mali’s border with Niger has sent more than 8,000 people into the village of Kongokiré in the latter’s Tillabéry region. “Many of the displaced in Kongokiré have already been forced to flee several times,” said Innocent Kunywana,…

Second attack in a week destroys Ebola treatment center

For the second time in a week, an Ebola treatment facility in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was attacked  – this time by armed men who overran a center in Butembo jointly operated by the Ministry of Health and Doctors Without Borders (MSF). There were 40 patients in the facility…

DR Congo’s crisis: Insecurity is one virus, Ebola is another

For months, health officials have issued a steady stream of warnings over the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where workers are racing the clock to contain an Ebola virus outbreak and treat its victims. Another disruption at the weekend is underscoring fears that the situation could become…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Niger: NGO alarmed by high fatality rates from malaria

The twin challenges of malaria and malnutrition are proving a challenge in Niger, where health and humanitarian aid workers say 10 children per day died during the month of August. “We have never seen anything like this before, and we fear it’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Dr….

Doctors Without Borders responds to BBC report on sexual misconduct

The global NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has issued a statement saying it has been unable to confirm allegations that its logistics staff members working in Africa were commonly engaged in sexual misconduct, but takes the allegations seriously. The response Thursday followed a BBC report featuring interviews with former employees…

EU sees spike on Turkey migration route as NGOs slam return policies

Global human rights organization Amnesty International is again pressuring European Union nations to change its policies on migration from Libya, where thousands of refugees and migrants are trapped in shocking conditions. That message comes as EU officials said Wednesday that the central Mediterranean transit numbers remain much lower, but the…

DRC: Ebola cases rise as Tedros visits Bikoro

Tedros Adhanom, the World Health Organization Director General, was in Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday to personally evaluate the response to the country’s new Ebola outbreak. Tedros met with President Joseph Kabila, Minister of Health Oly Ilunga and other officials before heading out into the field to meet with…

WHO declares new Ebola outbreak in DR Congo

A new outbreak of Ebola virus disease was declared Tuesday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where government officials confirmed two cases in the lakeside town of Bikoro in the country’s northwest. The World Health Organization said it was working closely with the DR Congo’s Ministry of Health, after…