The latest Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is unfolding against the backdrop of one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises.

Conflict involving armed groups and intercommunal violence has displaced large numbers of people, while insecurity has made it difficult for health workers to reach many communities, particularly camps for internally displaced people (IDPs).

Officials say the lack of access is hampering case detection, contact tracing and treatment, while communities that have long been deprived of basic services remain sceptical of an Ebola-focused response.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated: “We are in a region where around a million people are living in camps for internally displaced people. These people cannot access even the most basic services and reaching those camps is a major challenge.”

Kaseya also highlighted security concerns linked to conflict between the Hema and Lendu communities. “The people living in these camps have not received humanitarian support for a very long time. When health workers go there to raise awareness about Ebola, people ask: ‘Why are you coming now? Is it because of your disease?’” he said.

Following meetings with DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and African Union Chairperson and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, Kaseya said they concluded that around $1.4 billion is needed over the next six months to address the humanitarian crisis. “If our partners are serious, they will provide the funding needed to stop this outbreak where it is now. If they do not act and tomorrow the outbreak spirals out of control, they could also be affected,” he warned.

Kaseya’s biggest concern is the case fatality rate approaching 25 percent and the changing symptoms. “We know that Ebola case fatality rates are usually around 20 percent, but the symptoms we are seeing are changing. Some are different from what we have seen in previous outbreaks. There are still many unknowns,” he said.

Source: www.aljazeera.com