Download logo Join Doctors Without Borders for a live webcast panel discussion on efforts to contain the current Ebola epidemic in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). MSF teams are responding to the second largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, trying to halt the spread of this highly infectious, deadly disease. In some ways, MSF and other responders are better equipped than ever before—a therapeutic drug trial is underway and a promising experimental vaccine is being used to protect health workers. Yet the challenges remain daunting. The epicenter of the outbreak is in a conflict area in North Kivu province, making a rapid response much more difficult. Community outreach, the core of an effective intervention, is hampered by security concerns. Our panelists will explore the evolving medical approaches to fighting the Ebola virus, the initiation of a randomized controlled trial testing treatment options, and the unique ethical and logistical considerations this outbreak presents. … [Read more...] about Webcast: Fighting Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): New Tools & New Challenges
Democratic republic of congo history
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Authorities must reopen media outlets and end crackdown on internet freedom
Download logo Following further closures of media outlets and a mounting crackdown on internet and mobile messaging in the wake of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Amnesty International’s Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes Joan Nyanyuki said: “The authorities in the DRC must immediately reopen all media outlets and reinstate all blocked communications channels. People must be allowed to freely access and exchange information including online as they wait for election results. This attack on freedom of expression and media freedom risks exacerbating an already tense and volatile situation. “Now more than ever the Congolese people need assurance that the authorities are genuinely committed to the respect for human rights and allowing people to access information from diverse sources and communicate freely is a key part of that. The DRC authorities must uphold the right to freedom of expression and media freedom at this critical … [Read more...] about Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Authorities must reopen media outlets and end crackdown on internet freedom
Postponement of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo is extremely dangerous
Download logo The postponement of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is worrying and potentially dangerous for the Congolese people and for aid agencies working to address massive humanitarian need in the country, including the second largest Ebola outbreak in history. While the International Rescue Committee acknowledges the importance of being properly prepared to hold a free, fair and transparent election, postponement beyond one week, and thus extension of President Joseph Kabila’s term, would be exceptionally damaging to the country’s rule of law. Further delays could inflame political tensions and further worsen the ongoing humanitarian crisis and undermine the humanitarian response. President Kabila has been pushing back elections since his constitutionally mandated term ended in 2016, which has led to an increase in violence and insecurity across the country. New IRC analysis ranks Congo as the country second most at risk of experiencing … [Read more...] about Postponement of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo is extremely dangerous
Officials Fear Ebola Spreading From The Democratic Republic Of Congo To Uganda
The Democratic Republic of Congo's health ministry said it was facing the worst Ebola outbreak in the country's history on Monday, according to Wired. More than 200 people have died in the current outbreak since August, with more than 330 confirmed or probable cases having been reported throughout the North Kivu and Ituri provinces. This is the 10th outbreak DRC has faced since 1976, but the Minister of Public Health Oly Ilunga Kalenga said the current outbreak was perilously dangerous due to growing violence against health officials and civilians by rebel groups and militias who are fighting for control in the North Kivu province. Two health workers died in one attack this weekend, but over the last month, 11 civilians and one soldier were killed in the city of Beni, which is home to 800,000 people and the epicenter of the current outbreak."No other epidemic in the world has been as complex as the one we are currently experiencing," Kalenga said in a video statement posted to … [Read more...] about Officials Fear Ebola Spreading From The Democratic Republic Of Congo To Uganda
Democratic Republic of Congo: Upsurge in Killings in ‘Ebola Zone’
Download logo Unidentified fighters have killed more than 1,000 civilians in Beni territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a series of massacres beginning four years ago, Human Rights Watch said today. On September 22, 2018, fighters killed 17 people in Beni town, bringing the number of civilians killed this year to at least 235. On September 24, fighters attacked the town of Oicha and abducted 16 people, mostly children, who remain missing. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should expand its Congo investigation to cover the attacks that began in Beni on October 2, 2014, Human Rights Watch said. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO) should strengthen its analysis capabilities and community engagement to uncover responsibility for the attacks and improve protection for civilians. “The brutal killings of Beni residents won’t end until the commanders of the responsible forces are brought to justice,” … [Read more...] about Democratic Republic of Congo: Upsurge in Killings in ‘Ebola Zone’