Congo-Kinshasa: Engage Communities in Ebola Response

Human Rights Watch urges the Congolese government and international partners to prioritize community engagement and limit the role of security forces in responding to the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The organization highlights that years of conflict, abuse, and neglect have strained healthcare systems and eroded trust. The Bundibugyo Ebola virus, with no vaccine or approved treatment, has a fatality rate of up to 50%. The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, 2026.