Insecurity, Weak Health System, and Reasons Why Ebola-hit DR Congo Faces 'Catastrophic Collision' of Disease and Conflict
INTRO : The head of the World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is being overwhelmed by violence, describing the situation in the east as a “catastrophic collision of disease and conflict.” Here are five key reasons why Ebola-hit DR Congo faces 'catastrophic collision' of disease and conflict . 1. Ongoing Clashes Block Humanitarian Access : The first of the reasons why Ebola-hit DR Congo faces 'catastrophic collision' of disease and conflict is restricted access for health teams. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “stopping transmission in the region ‘depends entirely on humanitarian access’.” Yet “ongoing clashes are driving mass displacement, pushing exposed contacts into overcrowded camps and severing critical containment corridors.” He stressed, “the WHO ‘cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling’” and called for “an immediate ceasefire to allow medical tea...