DRC: Kasai – “Much of the population, including doctors and nurses, has fled into the forest”
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) central Kasai provinces have suffered from repeated, violent uprisings by a local militia, known as Kamwina Nsapu, against the central government, as well as violent clashes with national security forces, since August 2016. This has led to an increase in intercommunal ethnic conflicts and attacks against civilian populations.
All five provinces are now affected by fighting in Grand Kasai, with Lomami being among the worst hit. Across all affected areas, nearly 1.4 million people have been displaced, and thousands are reported to have been killed or injured. Both displaced populations and host communities lack adequate access to food, water and sanitation.
Dr. Rodrigue Alitanou, the medical coordinator for ALIMA in DRC, was part of a multi-sectoral exploration mission in Lomami province’s Mwene-Ditu health district that began on July 18. Here, he shares his experiences from the field.
The Ebola outbreak defeated in DRC
Kinshasa/Dakar, July 1st, 2017. The Ministry of Health has declared the end of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after 42 days without any newly reported cases. ALIMA (The Alliance for International Medical Action) medical teams since left the Muma health area in Likati district, which was affected by the epidemic.
Ebola outbreak in northeastern DRC: « We are facing many challenges to deploy medical aid »
An outbreak of Ebola has struck the Bas-Uélé province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). While it is relatively easy to airlift supplies to Kisangani, a major city in the northeast along the Congo River, and then go by road to the town of Buta, the capital of Bas-Uélé province, things become complicated between Buta and Likati, the affected health zone. Moumouni Kinda, head of programs for ALIMA, discusses the obstacles encountered when deploying teams and assessing needs.
