The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that escalating violence in eastern DRC continues to displace and endanger civilians. This surge in conflict is unfolding against the backdrop of the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the country, as well as other health and humanitarian emergencies nationwide.
Displacement in the Kivu provinces
In an update on Wednesday, OCHA stated that fighting in the territories of Fizi, Uvira, Walungu, and Kalehe in South Kivu province has displaced thousands of people in recent weeks. In Fizi territory alone, more than 40,000 people have been displaced since July. Overall, South Kivu province is now hosting nearly 1.2 million internally displaced people (IDPs).
In neighboring North Kivu province, clashes continued on Tuesday in Masisi territory, causing further displacement. Humanitarian organizations are assessing the impact and warning that further escalation could create additional humanitarian needs across the region.
The violence comes as aid agencies continue to support the response to the Ebola outbreak and deliver life-saving assistance.
Ebola case numbers continue to climb
Since the outbreak was declared in May 2026, case numbers have continued to climb. As of Tuesday, national authorities had reported over 7,700 Ebola cases and 3,700 deaths. The true toll is likely higher due to gaps in surveillance and case detection.
Ituri Province remains the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for approximately three-quarters of confirmed cases. Meanwhile, North Kivu and Haut-UƩlƩ continue to report sustained transmission. The outbreak has now spread to seven provinces in DRC.
Community transmission remains active in several provinces, while ongoing conflict, insecurity, and large-scale displacement continue to hinder surveillance, contact tracing, and case management efforts.
The impact of Ebola on children
Although adults account for most cases, children under five have a fatality rate of over 60 percent, compared to around 40 percent among adults, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Children also account for most of the deaths outside of treatment centers, whether at home or in health centers where they are not identified as Ebola patients.
āThe fatality rate in children under five years with the Bundibugyo virus continues to be higher than in older children and adults,ā said Daniel Youkee, Ebola WHO case management team lead, on Wednesday.
āThis is consistent with previous Ebola outbreaks, where evidence demonstrates that under-fives have a higher risk of mortality than other age groups.ā
Characteristics of the epidemic
The DRC government first declared the outbreak on May 15, and it was later confirmed that the Bundibugyo strain was responsible. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, though promising candidates are being tested.
The highly contagious Bundibugyo virus is relatively unknown compared to other strains. However, it killed around 30 percent of infected people during previous outbreaks in Uganda (2007) and the DRC (2012). The disease typically begins with flu-like symptoms, including fever, which can mask its true identity, before progressing to severe bleeding and other signs of full-blown illness.
Experts warn that, if the current trajectory continues, this outbreak will surpass the 2014ā16 West African outbreak, which killed over 11,000 people, and become the largest Ebola outbreak in recorded history.
A complex humanitarian crisis
Active conflict and mass displacement severely compound health emergencies. This year, nearly 15 million people in the DRC need humanitarian assistance, and more than half of the country's displaced populationā3.4 million peopleāare living in areas affected by the Ebola outbreak.
As these multiple crises strain resources, Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher recently allocated $1 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to address a concurrent cholera outbreak in western Kwango province. The funds will support essential health services, the water supply, and sanitation.
The humanitarian crisis in DRC is one of the world's longest-running and most neglected emergencies. The eastern provinces, particularly Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, have been plagued by violence for decades as non-state armed groups compete for control of regional natural resources.
In light of these compounding emergencies, OCHA called once again on all the parties involved to protect civilians and ensure safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access for those in need.