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Peacekeepers playing key role in effort to fight deadly Ebola in DR Congo

Peacekeepers playing key role in effort to fight deadly Ebola in DR Congo

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Despite tremendous efforts, an Ebola outbreak in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has yet to be fully contained, due in part to difficulties accessing parts of the region where conflict is raging.

The outbreak in North-Kivu which started in August, has so far seen a total of 161 confirmed and probable cases, and 106 deaths. So far, more than 13,700 people have been vaccinated.

The UN Security Council is currently in the DRC, and the World Health Organization (WHO) says the situation is “precarious” with rising insecurity, community mistrust and more cases threating to cross the border.

The UN’s peacekeeping mission in the country, MONUSCO, has played a key role in helping to contain the outbreak from day one, as David Gressly, MONUSCO deputy chief, told Cristina Silveiro of UN News.

Audio Credit
Cristina Silveiro, UN New - French
Audio Duration
4'45"
Photo Credit
MONUSCO/Mamadou Alain Coulibaly