Protesters have set fire to parts of a health facility treating Ebola patients in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Thursday, destroying two hospital tents during unrest linked to a patient’s death.
According to local politician Luc Mambele, vice president of the A2RC political party, tensions escalated after relatives of a young man who died from Ebola attempted to forcibly remove his body from Rwampara Hospital.
Health officials reportedly refused to release the body, prompting angry family members and protesters to throw projectiles at medical tents belonging to the humanitarian organisation Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA), sparking a fire.
ALIMA confirmed in a statement that six Ebola patients were receiving treatment inside the tents at the time of the attack. The patients have since been transferred to the main hospital for continued care.
The latest violence comes amid a worsening Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo linked to the deadly Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
The Congolese government said on Thursday that at least 160 deaths are believed to be connected to the outbreak. Authorities also confirmed 13 new Ebola cases and reported 78 suspected infections in Ituri Province.
Videos from CNN circulating online showed large flames engulfing the treatment tents, leaving hospital beds and medical equipment badly damaged.
Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya condemned the attack, saying residents reacted in a way that risked worsening the health crisis.
Mambele blamed growing misinformation and mistrust within local communities for the unrest, noting that some residents believe Ebola is not real.
“The population is not sufficiently informed or made aware of what is happening. To members of the most remote communities, Ebola is a White man’s invention; it doesn’t exist,” he said.
ALIMA also warned against the spread of false and unverified information on social media, cautioning that misinformation could deepen fear and hostility toward healthcare workers and medical facilities.
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, although it says the global risk level remains low.
Source:CNN
