Category: MIL-OSI

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Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and the growing risk of regional spread

Source: President of South Africa –

In my capacity as African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, I commend the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda for their swift leadership and transparency in declaring the Ebola Virus Disease outbreaks of the Bundibugyo strain in Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Kampala, Uganda, following laboratory confirmation. Early detection, rapid reporting and decisive action remain critical to containing outbreaks before they escalate into a wider regional crisis.

We stand in solidarity with the Governments and peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, particularly affected communities and frontline health workers. I also commend neighbouring countries that have moved rapidly to strengthen preparedness, cross-border surveillance and emergency coordination.

I further commend the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, under the leadership of the Director General, Dr Jean Kaseya, working together with the World Health Organisation, for its rapid support to affected countries, regional coordination efforts and mobilisation of partners around a unified continental response, building on the successful continental incident management model deployed during the mpox response. I also welcome the efforts of national authorities, Africa CDC, the World Health Organisation and partners to strengthen surveillance, laboratory systems, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, risk communication, case management and access to appropriate medical countermeasures.

I call on the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda to sustain strong political leadership and continue working closely with frontline responders and communities in an environment of trust and transparency to stop these outbreaks at their source and prevent further spread.

Ebola does not respect borders. In a region marked by high population mobility, insecurity and humanitarian movement, the risk of regional spread is significant and demands urgent, coordinated action. I therefore urge affected and at-risk countries to intensify cross-border collaboration, strengthen surveillance at formal and informal points of entry, and ensure rapid information sharing, particularly in areas affected by insecurity and population displacement. As the chair of the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, I make a special plea to ensure that women, children and adolescents’ are not left behind and that routine services do not backslide as we handle this crisis.

These outbreaks are also a reminder that, despite the decline in Official Development Assistance, Africa must continue investing — including through increased domestic financing — in resilient public health systems and regional health security architecture. Preparedness requires sustained investment in national public health institutes, emergency operations centres, laboratory and genomic surveillance networks, trained health workforce and rapid response capabilities.

I therefore call on African Union Member States and international partners to strengthen support for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response through timely financing, technical assistance, medical countermeasures and direct support to affected communities. Solidarity must translate into concrete action.

As African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, I will continue working with the African Union Commission, Heads of State and Government, Africa CDC and partners to ensure that Africa’s response remains coordinated, adequately financed and anchored in the principles of solidarity, health security and sovereignty.

The peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and the wider region must not face this threat alone. Africa has the experience, institutions and resolve to contain these outbreaks. What is required now is urgency, unity and collective action.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Qatar Strongly Condemns Drone Attack on UAE Targeting Barakah Nuclear Power Plant

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | May 17, 2026

The State of Qatar strongly condemns the drone attack on the sisterly United Arab Emirates, including one drone that targeted Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra region, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and a serious threat to regional security and 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms the attacks marked a dangerous escalation through the targeting of vital facilities and civilian infrastructure.

The Ministry stresses the need to spare the region the consequences of such unjustified attacks and to intensify efforts aimed at de-escalation in order to restore regional and international security and stability.

It also reiterates Qatar’s full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and its support for all measures taken by the UAE to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and the safety of its facilities.

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Radio News Release (Soundbite): Special Briefing on Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Status | May 16, 2026

Source: APO

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Stay informed on the latest developments regarding the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (https://AfricaCDC.org/) led a coordinated regional response in close collaboration with health authorities in affected member states. The special briefing led by Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, outlined urgent measures taken with global health partners to strengthen cross-border surveillance, reinforce laboratory support, and contain the spread.

Click here for more Audios: https://apo-opa.co/4dPubGc

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

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Réponse à Ebola : République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) et Ouganda – Déclaration du Directeur Général

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le 15 mai 2026, Africa CDC (https://AfricaCDC.org/) a alerté le continent africain et la communauté internationale sur le risque croissant de propagation régionale de l’épidémie de Maladie à Virus Ebola (MVE) provenant de la province de l’Ituri en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC). La zone affectée se caractérise par une forte mobilité des populations, un contexte d’insécurité et d’intenses mouvements transfrontaliers avec les pays voisins, notamment l’Ouganda. Cette alerte a mis en évidence l’urgence d’une action continentale coordonnée afin de prévenir une propagation supplémentaire et de protéger la sécurité sanitaire régionale et continentale.

Le même jour, la RDC et l’Ouganda ont officiellement déclaré des flambées d’Ebola sur leurs territoires respectifs. Conformément au mandat d’Africa CDC, lorsqu’une épidémie touche plus d’un État membre, Africa CDC assume la responsabilité de diriger et de coordonner la riposte aux niveaux régional et continental, en impliquant tous les différents partenaires.

Je félicite les Gouvernements de la RDC et de l’Ouganda pour les efforts continus qu’ils déploient afin de contenir cette épidémie. J’exprime également mon soutien au Soudan du Sud, pays voisin de la province de l’Ituri, pour les mesures de préparation qu’il a engagées. Africa CDC continuera à travailler étroitement avec tous les partenaires afin de garantir qu’un soutien rapide et approprié soit apporté à tous les pays affectés et à risque.

Le 16 mai 2026, à la suite de la confirmation des flambées d’Ebola dans les deux pays, Africa CDC a convoqué une réunion consultative de haut niveau réunissant plus de 130 participants représentant les pays affectés et les pays à risque, y compris le Soudan du Sud, ainsi que des partenaires donateurs, notamment les États-Unis, le Royaume-Uni et l’Union européenne ; des agences des Nations Unies, notamment l’OMS, l’UNICEF, la FAO, le PAM, l’OIM et OCHA ; des fondations philanthropiques ; des agences humanitaires ; des entreprises pharmaceutiques ; ainsi que d’autres parties prenantes clés.

Afin de renforcer la coordination et d’orienter la riposte, la réunion a recommandé l’activation immédiate de l’Équipe continentale de Gestion du Soutien aux Incidents (Incident Management Support Team – IMST), réunissant l’ensemble des partenaires clés pour soutenir et coordonner les efforts de préparation et de riposte dans les domaines de la surveillance, des laboratoires, de la prise en charge des cas, de la prévention et du contrôle des infections, de la communication sur les risques et de l’engagement communautaire, de la logistique, de la collaboration transfrontalière et des opérations de réponse rapide.

À la lumière de l’évolution de la situation, et conformément à l’Article 12 des Statuts d’Africa CDC relatif à la déclaration d’une Urgence de Santé Publique de Sécurité Continentale (Public Health Emergency of Continental Security – PHECS), j’ai consulté le Président de la Commission de l’Union africaine, S.E. Monsieur Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, ainsi que le Directeur général de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. J’ai également demandé au Président du Groupe Consultatif d’Urgence d’Africa CDC (Emergency Consultative Group – ECG), le Professeur Salim Abdool Karim, de convoquer de manière urgente l’ECG afin de fournir des orientations techniques et des recommandations sur l’évolution du risque et sur l’éventuelle nécessité de déclarer une PHECS.

Je suis également en consultation, pour des orientations politiques supplémentaires et afin de renforcer la solidarité continentale, avec S.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, Président de la République du Burundi et Président en exercice de l’Union africaine, ainsi qu’avec S.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, Président de la République d’Afrique du Sud et Champion de l’Union africaine pour la Prévention, la Préparation et la Réponse aux Pandémies.

Afin d’assurer une coordination rapprochée de la riposte continentale à cette épidémie qui affecte notre continent, j’ai décidé d’annuler mes engagements à Genève dans le cadre de l’Assemblée mondiale de la Santé et de retourner en Afrique. Je me rendrai prochainement dans les pays affectés afin de soutenir les autorités nationales, mobiliser les partenaires et renforcer l’action collective continentale.

Africa CDC demeure pleinement engagé à travailler avec les États membres et les partenaires pour protéger les vies humaines, contenir l’épidémie et renforcer l’architecture africaine de sécurité sanitaire et de préparation aux urgences.

Distribué par APO Group pour Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

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Ebola Response: Statement from the Director General, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

Source: APO

On 15 May 2026, Africa CDC (https://AfricaCDC.org/) alerted the continent and the global community to the growing risk of regional spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak originating from Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The affected area is characterised by high population mobility, insecurity, and intense cross-border connectivity with neighbouring countries, including Uganda. This alert underscored the urgent need for coordinated continental action to prevent further spread and safeguard regional and continental health security.

On the same day, the DRC and Uganda officially declared Ebola outbreaks in their respective countries. In line with the Africa CDC’s mandate, when an outbreak affects more than one Member State, the agency assumes responsibility for leading and coordinating the response at the regional and continental levels, bringing all partners together.

I commend the Governments of the DRC and Uganda for their continued efforts to contain these outbreaks. I also express my support for South Sudan, which is geographically close to Ituri province, in advancing its preparedness measures. Africa CDC will continue to work closely with all partners to ensure that timely and appropriate support is provided to all affected and at-risk countries.

On 16 May 2026, following the confirmation of Ebola outbreaks in the two countries, Africa CDC convened a high-level consultative meeting bringing together more than 130 participants representing affected and at-risk countries as well as donor partners (USA, UK, European Union); Philanthropies, United Nations agencies (WHO, UNICEF, FAO, WFP, IOM, OCHA); humanitarian agencies; pharmaceutical companies; and other key stakeholders.

To strengthen coordination and guide the response, the meeting recommended the immediate activation of the continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), bringing together all key partners to support and coordinate preparedness and response efforts across surveillance, laboratory systems, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, logistics, cross-border collaboration, and rapid response operations.

In light of these developments, and in accordance with Article 12 of the Africa CDC Statute regarding the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), I have consulted the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mr Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. 

I have also requested the Chair of the Africa CDC Emergency Consultative Group (ECG), Prof Salim Abdool Karim, to urgently convene the ECG in order to provide technical guidance and recommendations on the evolving risk situation and the potential need for a PHECS declaration.

In addition, I am engaging, for further political guidance and continental solidarity, with H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and Chairperson of the African Union, as well as H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.

To ensure close coordination of the continental response to this outbreak affecting our continent, I have decided to cancel my engagements in Geneva during the World Health Assembly and will return to Africa on Monday. I will be visiting the affected countries in the coming days to support national authorities, engage partners, and reinforce collective continental action.

Africa CDC remains fully committed to working with Member States and partners to protect lives, contain the outbreak, and strengthen Africa’s health security and preparedness architecture.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Media Contact:
Wilson Johwa, Senior Communications Officer
Directorate of Communication & Public Information
JohwaW@africacdc.org

Follow Africa CDC on:
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4wH8jV9 
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About Africa CDC: 
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the public health agency of the African Union. As an autonomous institution, Africa CDC supports AU Member States to strengthen health systems, improve disease surveillance, and enhance emergency preparedness and response. For more information, visit: http://www.AfricaCDC.org 

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Major routes reopen in W Cape after severe weather

Source: Government of South Africa

Major routes reopen in W Cape after severe weather

Major national routes in the Western Cape, including the N1 and N2, have been reopened and are operating close to normal capacity following recent severe weather, signalling significant progress in recovery efforts across the province.

Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC, Anton Bredell, said progress has been made in recovery, with mop-up operations and infrastructure restoration continuing in several affected areas.

“Restoration efforts are ongoing, particularly in areas affected by infrastructure damage, electricity outages, and displacement of communities. Electricity restoration remains a key focus area, with approximately 62% of affected areas now reconnected.

“Eskom teams are actively working to restore supply in the Cape Winelands and Theewaterskloof areas, where high-voltage infrastructure sustained significant damage,” Bredell said.

He added that humanitarian relief efforts are continuing across the province, with thousands of residents receiving relief in the form of food parcels, cooked meals, water, blankets, and hygiene supplies. Emergency shelters also remain operational in several districts, providing support to displaced individuals and families.

“Government acknowledges the challenges still faced by affected communities, particularly regarding access to clean drinking water, electricity and safe shelter. Municipalities and disaster response teams are working closely with partners, including NGOs and community organisations, to address these needs,” the MEC said.

While conditions are expected to remain stable over the weekend, the South African Weather Service has indicated the possibility of another weather system developing early next week, with rainfall expected primarily in the Overberg and Garden Route regions.

Officials said the situation is being closely monitored, with preparedness measures being strengthened in anticipation of further adverse conditions.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Bredell are scheduled to conduct an aerial assessment of the affected areas on Monday. This will be followed by a formal briefing and media engagement to guide decisions on recovery, reconstruction and funding support.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant, follow official advisories, and make use of available support services.

The Western Cape Provincial Government reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all affected communities receive the necessary assistance as recovery operations continue. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Government launches water anti-corruption drive

Source: Government of South Africa

Government launches water anti-corruption drive

The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, has announced the establishment of a national Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum as part of intensified efforts to combat crime, corruption and sabotage within South Africa’s water sector.

Presenting the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Friday, Majodina identified water mafias – organised criminal networks engaged in crime, corruption and sabotage of water infrastructure – as one of the central threats to water service delivery.

“One of the focus areas on the National Water Action Plan is the fight against crime and corruption in the water sector. The Forum involves law enforcement, government, the private sector and civil society, and is coordinating efforts to prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to corruption within the sector,” Majodina said.

Launched on 5 March 2026, in partnership with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the Forum will coordinate a multi-stakeholder response to corruption.

Rural access programme

The Minister also announced that the department has initiated a nationwide programme to accelerate access to water services for unserved communities, many of which are in rural areas.

The programme seeks to implement rapid, cost-effective, and appropriate interventions such as groundwater development, spring protection and rainwater harvesting, in addition to extensions of existing water supply systems.

Majodina noted that substantial work has been done to identify communities and potential water sources where there is no formal potable water infrastructure or where existing systems are non-functional. To date, over 2 600 settlements without reliable potable water have been identified. 

“We are now packaging a number of projects, prioritising grant funding, mobilising our Water Boards, the private sector and civil society, including through the Adopt-a-Village approach, to accelerate implementation,” Majodina said.

In the Eastern Cape, 14 borehole projects are currently being implemented across 16 communities, with a further eight spring protection initiatives underway in partnership with the Department of Agriculture. In KwaZulu-Natal, 28 boreholes and two spring protection projects are in progress.

Addressing water services challenges in metros

Majodina said the department is supporting broader institutional and governance reforms within the water sector, including support for Metro Trading Service reforms and technical guidance on ringfencing municipal water services as sustainable trading functions.

Key infrastructure projects include the upgrade of the Klipdrift Water Treatment Works in Hammanskraal, under the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, and the Welbedacht Pipeline in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.

“For the Welbedacht pipeline, Phase 1 was completed in June 2025 at a cost of R585 million, improving water supply reliability to Mangaung. In Phase 2, a 71-km expansion, estimated at R1.6 billion, is in advanced planning, with implementation scheduled from 2027 to 2032,” Majodina said.

Building skills and capacity in the sector

In addressing capacity constraints within the sector, Majodina revealed that while the department’s overall vacancy rate stood at 6.79% as of March 2026, critical engineering and scientific posts had a higher vacancy rate of 15.8%.

Over the past financial year, 116 technical positions were filled, alongside the appointment of 54 candidate engineers and scientists.

She added that the department’s Learning Academy continues to play a key role in building future capacity, with partnerships across the water sector and private industry to provide training and mentorship.

Since its inception, she said the academy has awarded bursaries to more than 1 000 young people, many of whom have gone on to join the department.

“The Learning Academy currently has 226 external bursars contracted to the department from all the mainstream universities. The bursars are studying in the scientific, engineering, construction and project management fields,” she said.

Global relationships

On the global stage, South Africa is playing a leading role in the African Union’s Africa Investments Programme, which was established by the United Nations High Level Panel on Water.

The Minister noted that the African Union’s Africa Investment Programme finalised a report, which highlighted the need for increasing investment in the water sector through mobilisation between R10 billion and R12 billion annually.

“This led to the United Nations appointing South Africa and France to prepare and co-chair a theme on investment in water for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which will be co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal in December 2026,” the Minister reported.

The investment theme is one of six themes of the UN Water Conference, each of which will be co-chaired by two Member States. – SAnews.gov.za

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R12bn allocated to water infrastructure grants

Source: Government of South Africa

R12bn allocated to water infrastructure grants

An amount of R12.3 billion has been allocated to infrastructure grants to fund 70 bulk water projects and 341 water services initiatives across all provinces, as government intensifies efforts to stabilise struggling municipal systems.

Presenting the Budget Vote for the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in Parliament on Friday, Minister Pemmy Majodina announced that the funding will be channelled through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG).

The Minister said RBIG will fund 70 bulk infrastructure projects across all nine provinces, while the WSIG will support 341 projects, including 175 planned for completion in the current financial year.

“Grants will also be used to leverage additional investment by unlocking partnerships with the private sector and development institutions. DWS will make increasing use of its Water Boards and other implementing agents, such as the DBSA [Development Bank of Southern Africa] to assist struggling municipalities to implement projects more expeditiously,” the Minister said.

Major projects completed in 2025/26 include the R759 million Klipdrift Water Treatment Works in Hammanskraal (now producing its full 50 megalitres per day); Phase 1 of the R4.8 billion Giyani Water Project (24 of 55 villages reticulated); the R736 million Babanana Bulk Water Pipeline in Limpopo; Phase 3 of the R1.5 billion Maphumulo Bulk Water Scheme in KwaZulu-Natal, and the R351 million Moretele South Bulk Water Supply Scheme in the North West.

Among major projects planned for completion in 2026/27 include four bulk water schemes worth R2.24 billion in Chris Hani District Municipality; the R2 billion Loskop Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme in Mpumalanga; the R1.1 billion George Water Supply Project in the Western Cape; and multiple North West schemes, totaling over R2.3 billion.

The allocation comes amid a constrained fiscal environment, with the department’s overall budget declining from R23.4 billion in 2025/26 to R22 billion in the current cycle.

Majodina acknowledged that while South Africa has made notable progress in expanding access to water and sanitation since 1994, the reliability of municipal water services has deteriorated significantly.

She said the department will intensify support and intervention in the 107 worst-performing municipalities, identified through the 2023 Blue Drop and 2025 Green Drop assessments. The recent findings show a worsening trend in wastewater management, with systems classified as critical increasing from 39% in 2022 to 47% in 2025.

Debts owed by municipalities to water boards

The Minister raised concern over debts owed by municipalities to water boards, noting that as of 31 March 2026, municipalities owed water boards more than R27 billion, including R23 billion in overdue debt, a deterioration from figures recorded in mid-2025.

She said water boards have responded by implementing stricter credit control measures, including throttling water supply to defaulting municipalities and, in extreme cases, attaching municipal bank accounts.

“National Treasury has implemented the withholding of equitable share allocations for the worst non-paying municipalities, and this has affected 62 municipalities to date,” the Minister said.

The Minister has also led coordinated engagements with Premiers, MECs for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), and Mayors to improve payment compliance and restore financial stability in the sector.

Echoing concerns raised by President Cyril Ramaphosa during His State of the Nation Address in February, the Minister said many communities now have infrastructure in place, but continue to experience water shortages, poor quality supply, and sewage spillages.

“The reliability of municipal water services has declined sharply, with worsening water services disruptions, sewage spillages, and poor water quality in many areas. In other words, while most people now have access to a tap, water often does not come out of the tap or is not safe to drink. This remain an undeniable truth which we are attending to.

“In the spirit of co-operative governance, the President met with mayors on 30 April 2026 to discuss the National Water Action Plan. He said that the plan addresses the root causes of the crisis in municipal water services, including reforms to the way in which the services are delivered, to improve their financial sustainability, and to ensure that they are effectively managed by staff with the required competencies,” Majodina  said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) shores up patrols in Nasir as communities cautiously return

Source: APO


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Nasir in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state, was once a vibrant town, a place where families farmed, children played, and life moved at an easy pace along the banks of the Sobat River. When conflict erupted, that changed almost overnight.

In early 2025, armed clashes spread rapidly, forcing families to flee. Homes were abandoned. Livelihoods collapsed. Women, children, and the elderly bore the heaviest burden. And Nasir became a ghost town.

Many residents fled across the border to Ethiopia’s Gambella region. Others dispersed into remote villages deep inside the country, seeking safety wherever they could find it. Countless lives were lost.

Now, a fragile calm is returning. Families are slowly making their way back, with little more than the determination to rebuild. But what greets them is a town stripped of basic services — broken boreholes, limited healthcare, and infrastructure left in ruins.

To support their return, peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), with force protection from the Rwandan contingent, have shored up patrols in Nasir. Their presence offers reassurance to communities that have endured great suffering.

During one recent patrol, the UN team met with local authorities to assess conditions on the ground. County Commissioner Changkouth Ruon Lal spoke of a changed dynamic between civilians and security actors.

“The relationship between civilians and uniformed personnel is improving,” he said. “This has led to communities slowly regaining their confidence and beginning to retrace their steps back to Nasir.”

Deputy Coordinator for the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), Changkouth Wiyoul, described the scale of returns. His office has already registered over 5,000 returnees arriving from Ethiopia and from displacement sites across neighboring Jonglei state, and needs are urgent.

“People are facing severe shortages of medical supplies and clean water,” Mr Wiyoul said. “All boreholes were damaged during conflict, while seven health facilities that once served this area were affected by reduced humanitarian funding.”

He called on humanitarian partners to step up aid before conditions deteriorate further.

The road towards stability for Nasir will not be easy. But families are cautiously returning, not because problems are resolved, but because home matters. With renewed peace efforts, improved civil-military relations, and the support of humanitarian partners, the town has a chance to rebuild.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

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World Health Organization (WHO) convenes partners to strengthen Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Source: APO


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As part of efforts to support the ongoing response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the World Health Organization convened governments, partners and technical agencies to align response priorities and reinforce preparedness across affected and neighbouring countries.

The outbreak has affected several health zones in Ituri Province, including Mongbwalu, Rwampara and Bunia, where health authorities are responding to confirmed cases, suspected deaths and infections among healthcare workers. The evolving situation, combined with insecurity and population mobility linked to mining and trade activities, continues to complicate response efforts and increase the risk of wider transmission.

WHO is reinforcing support to national and provincial authorities through deployment of technical expertise and emergency supplies to strengthen surveillance, case investigation, infection prevention and control, laboratory capacity, clinical care and community engagement activities.

Additional specialists in epidemiology, logistics, laboratory diagnostics, clinical care and community engagement are being mobilized to support frontline teams and help strengthen outbreak control measures in affected areas.

“Clear coordination mechanisms at provincial level will be critical to help partners rapidly align and mobilize support where it is most needed,” said Dr Mir Rahimzai, FHI 360.

Participants highlighted the importance of strong community engagement and coordinated operational approaches to strengthen public trust and support response efforts in affected communities.

The meeting brought together more than 220 participants from WHO, Ministries of Health, Africa CDC, UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, research institutions and partners following the official declaration of the outbreak by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 15 May.

Partners are expanding response activities on the ground. Médecins Sans Frontières is supporting patient isolation and infection prevention and control activities in Mongbwalu and Bunia, while additional teams and supplies are being mobilized for deployment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

The World Food Programme confirmed readiness to support airlift operations between Kinshasa and Bunia to facilitate rapid delivery of emergency supplies and equipment to affected areas.

The International Organization for Migration is supporting preparedness and surveillance activities at points of entry and along key cross-border corridors linking the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.

“Cross-border population movement remains a key factor in this outbreak. IOM teams are already supporting preparedness and surveillance efforts on the ground in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda,” said Dr Jerry Geoffrey Mtike, IOM.

Countries across the region are also strengthening readiness measures to reduce the risk of further spread. Zambia highlighted vulnerabilities linked to mining and trade corridors and identified diagnostic capacity, sample transport systems and cross-border surveillance among key preparedness priorities.

Dr Francis Kasolo, WHO Representative, Ethiopia, underscored the importance of strengthening preparedness beyond land borders, including air travel routes, and called for pre-positioning of essential supplies in high-risk countries.

WHO is also scaling up regional readiness activities, including deployment of supplies, laboratory coordination and development of a multi-country Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan with partners. Priority countries are being supported to strengthen emergency coordination, border surveillance, healthcare worker training and contingency planning to enhance readiness and reduce the risk of further spread.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.