The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned the public about the looming risk from Ebola escaping a laboratory exposed to the current fighting in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.
ICRC’s regional director for Africa, Patrick Youssef, expressed concern over the risk of power cuts at the National Biomedical Research Institute’s laboratory, situated close to ongoing clashes between the army and rebel groups.
Speaking from Geneva on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Youssef emphasized that the situation is ‘critical,’ and preserving the samples is of utmost importance to prevent unimaginable consequences.
“The spread of the Ebola virus would be catastrophic, not only for the people of Congo but for the broader region,” he said.
Myriam Favier, ICRC’s head of subdelegation in North Kivu, reported that medical teams at the CBCA Ndosho Hospital in Goma are overwhelmed by a massive influx of wounded due to the worsening security situation in Sake.
“Our teams are doing everything possible to treat the injured, but the situation is becoming increasingly dire,” Favier stated.
Monsignor Willy Ngumbi, the Bishop of Goma, called on all parties involved in the conflict to respect human life and international law.
“I call on all parties to have absolute respect for human life and public infrastructure,” Ngumbi said.
“The lives of innocent civilians must be protected, and all violence must cease. I also urge the population to avoid violence, particularly sexual violence, and to ensure that access to basic services is not disrupted, he added.
In Kinshasa, tensions continue to rise as protesters storm foreign embassies, including those of France, Belgium, the US, and Uganda, in response to the ongoing turmoil.
Videos circulating on social media show demonstrators burning tires in front of the embassies, and clashes with police have been reported. The security situation in the capital is rapidly deteriorating, with the police deployed to control the unrest.
The ICRC expressed concern about the potential for further violence, calling for calm and dialogue.
The Red Cross continues to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the urgent need for international support to contain the conflict and prevent further harm.
