Mercy Corps Joins Efforts to Prevent Spread of Ebola in DRC

Global organization rapidly expands large-scale humanitarian response in eastern part of the country

Global organization Mercy Corps is expanding its existing humanitarian response in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to help prevent the spread of Ebola. The tenth outbreak of the disease in the country has already killed 39 people.

This week, Mercy Corps emergency teams are distributing hand-washing stations for health facilities in Musienene and Lubero health districts, in North Kivu, the most conflict-affected province in the country. The teams will follow up with additional prevention activities to these districts, which are home to 400,000 people.

“Battling Ebola in a conflict zone brings additional security challenges,” says Jean-Philippe Marcoux, DRC Country Director for Mercy Corps. “Mercy Corps teams are building on their existing humanitarian response expertise to reach communities at immediate risk near the epicenter of the epidemic.”

The Ebola virus is transmitted via bodily fluids from person to person. Water, sanitation and proper hygiene practices are key to preventing its spread. However, only one-fifth of Congolese in North Kivu have access to clean water.

Mercy Corps teams will quickly assess the quality and availability of water, latrines, showers and hand-washing stations in health centers and communities, to better improve hygiene, sanitation and access to water for communities in areas in the path of the disease.

“DRC has already suffered from two decades of conflict, as well as this year’s rising insecurity forcing more people to flee their homes,” Marcoux added. “Together, we must do whatever we can to ensure that this Ebola epidemic doesn’t cause more suffering.”

Mercy Corps has worked in DRC since 2007, responding to the needs of internally displaced persons and host communities, strengthening their resilience to recurring stresses and shocks. The global organization has reached a total of 1.5 million Congolese through emergency support, economic opportunities through agriculture, and addressing the root causes of food insecurity and conflict.

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