Full Breakdown
Attack on Nyakunde Hospital Undermines Ebola Response in Eastern DRC
7/16/2026, 10:01:26 PM
Nyakunde Hospital Attack
On Wednesday afternoon in Ituri province, an angry crowd stormed Nyakunde Hospital, throwing stones and breaching the perimeter fence. The unrest followed the death of a woman who arrived to give birth but developed severe anaemia. Hospital staff said relatives offered blood donations, but the facility declined because transfusions are prohibited during an Ebola outbreak. After the woman’s death at about 3 p.m., the crowd’s assault caused several of the up to ten Ebola patients in treatment to escape, and the medical team withdrew. The generator that powered the ward stopped functioning, leaving the remaining patients without care. By Thursday morning only three Ebola patients remained at the site.
Background to the Outbreak
The incident is part of Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak, first announced in May 2024. Official figures record 2,073 confirmed cases and 796 deaths, though the World Health Organization cautions the true toll may be double. Previous waves (2018-2020) saw more than 25 health workers killed, fostering deep mistrust of medical teams and frequent attacks on treatment centers.
Official Responses
Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian aid organization operating an Ebola treatment centre adjacent to Nyakunde, evacuated its staff after the violence. Congo’s army announced an investigation into the unrest. The U.S. State Department said it is working to contain the outbreak while advancing a U.S.-backed minerals partnership in the country.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Members of her family offered to donate blood, but the hospital refused because blood transfusions are prohibited during an Ebola outbreak,” — François Berocan Uderos, medical biologist, Nyakunde Hospital
- “The medical team has since left the hospital. The generator supplying power to the facility is no longer functioning, and patients have fled,” — François Berocan Uderos
- “We evacuated our people and those well enough in the ETC (Ebola treatment center) got out and ran. All of Samaritan's Purse got out, and we haven't gone back since. There are roadblocks, and we don't feel it is safe,” — Ken Isaacs, vice president, Samaritan’s Purse
- “Some patients who were too sick to flee remained behind and were "left without treatment," said Isaacs, who was briefed on the incident by staff.” — Ken Isaacs
The attack highlights the precarious security environment that hampers containment efforts and threatens the safety of both patients and responders.
