“The police intervened to calm the situation, but unfortunately they did not succeed,” said local student Alexis Burata, who stated that he was in the area at the time, according to the agency. “Young people eventually set fire to the center,” he added.
Hama Amadou, the field coordinator of the humanitarian organization ALIMA, whose teams worked in the center, later stated according to AP that the situation has calmed down and that the humanitarian teams are continuing their work in the center.
The arson attack in the village of Rwampara reflects the challenges faced by health workers trying to limit the spread of the dangerous Ebola virus through strict measures. However, they may conflict with local customs, such as funeral ceremonies. The disease has been spreading for several weeks in the region, where medical facilities are lacking and where many people are fleeing armed conflicts.
The local authorities ensure the unsafe burial of victims suspected of Ebola. They are thus trying to prevent traditional funerals, during which a larger number of people gather, because the bodies of the dead can be highly contagious. However, this is often not liked by the families and loved ones of the victims, who do not have the opportunity to bury their loved ones.
According to Deputy High Commissioner Jean Claude Mukendi, the rioters did not understand that they could not bury a person suspected of Ebola in the traditional way.
“Family, friends and other young people wanted to take his body home for burial, although the instructions of the authorities during this Ebola epidemic are clear. All bodies must be buried according to regulations,” explained Mukendi.
Health workers and humanitarian organizations in eastern Congo warn that they are running out of capacity and equipment to deal with the new Ebola epidemic. According to them, the situation is significantly complicated by armed violence in the region, where there is already a humanitarian crisis and mass displacement of the population.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 139 suspected deaths and nearly 600 suspected cases of infection have been recorded so far. At the weekend, the WHO declared an international public health emergency. There is no vaccine or reliable treatment available for the currently recorded strain of Ebola.
